Years ago there was no post office here—there was no New Port Richey, in fact. Those that lived here got their mail from Port Richey. No direct road or bridge connected what is now New Port Richey and Port Richey. There was an old wagon trail by way of the Casson house and the old Clark grove, and there was a shorter woods path along what is now Madison street, thence on through the Casson place, and coming out at the point where the Herms floral gardens are now located. The other route was by row boat down the Cotee River. They generally took the latter, and caught fish by Trolling as they went. I remember one day they caught 36 trout and jack fish Trolling to Port Richey after the mail. Generally the one who went got the mail for the rest of the people

They were also expected to bring two fish for each letter to the postman from Port Richey. If there were a dozen letters it was up to them to catch 24 fish. As the population increased they got tired of this. It was reasoned that the Star Route carrier might just as well return to Tarpon Springs on this side of the river, and leave their mail in boxes instead of going back on the other side over the Old Post Road. So they set apart of a day and cleared a road through the Hill place (now the Casson farm) and down part of what is now Madison street; and along this route we put up our mail boxes. But the carrier, Driver by name, had a will of his own which they had not reckoned with, and he would not accept this as his routing, hence all our work went for nothing. This disappointment, however, did not peeve them. They said, “If we cannot be served by carrier from Port Richey we will get a post office of our own.” It was suggested by the Port Richey Company, by Mr. Holzscheiter and others that circulate two petitions, one for a post office here, the other for Mr. DeVries being appointed postmaster. He really did not consider the job worth having, but the Port Richey Company, by whom he was then employed, said he could put the post office in their office building, which was then standing in the middle of Main street, surrounded by saw-palmetto, and they would not deduct anything from his wages for the time consumed in taking care of the mail. Under these conditions, then, he set about getting everybody south of the Herms property to sign the petitions. They were presented with about 80 names, as he remember, the one seeking appointment as postmaster being the duplicate of the other so far as signatures were concerned. In due time the petitions were acted upon, and he was examined for the important position of postmaster. But a delay occurred in establishing the office on account of our not choosing a suitable name. The department contended that since there was already a Newport Florida and a Port Richey, Florida Newport-Richey would lead to errors and confusion. Quite a number then favored calling the place Chascotee, after the latter part of our river’s name. This, too was considered unsuitable by the land company and many of the settlers, who had done so much advertising under the name of Port Richey. We got in touch with our congressman—Hon. Mr. Sparkman, and on his suggestion, got up another petition, asking that the place be named New Port Richey, dividing “Newport” into two words. After some correspondence the department accepted this naming. A copy of this petition is now on file in the Avery Library and Historical Society’s rooms, with the original signatures copied. Mr. DeVries received his commission as postmaster dated July 21st, 1915, but, as he did not at once receive his supplies and regulations, the office was not established until August 30th, 1915.

In 1965 Ralph Bellwood wrote: The first Post Office was located in a building near the corner of Main Street and Grand Boulevard. The facilities for the Fourth Class Post Office consisted of a wooden shipping box which was divided into fifteen small compartments or “pigeon holes” where mail was placed in alphabetical order after being sorted, and from which it was handed out over a counter when called for by patrons. In the due course of time the facilities were moved to more spacious quarters at the corner of Main and Adams Streets in a building where the New Port Richey Press was born and published on a hand operated press. After a number of years the facilities were again moved to a building in the middle of the block between Grand Boulevard and Adams Street. At this time the Arcade Building was being erected and upon its completion the Post Office was moved into the north west quarter of the large building. It remained there until 1959 when it was moved into the present building south of Orange Lake on Circle Boulevard.

After serving as Postmaster for twenty years, during which time the Post Office was raised to second class, Mr. DeVries retired from his position.

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