Submitted by Fillmore Historical Museum

Prior to 1887, Royce Surdam and Thomas Bard were developing the property south of the Santa Clara River. The development included lots for a church, school, college, stores and, of course, a post office. Royce Surdam was appointed the first postmaster in May, 1887, and it was probably located in the store he built in Bardsdale. However, by then, the Southern Pacific Railroad had laid track on the north side of the river. Surdam would come to the depot, pick up the mail sack and return to Bardsdale. Often he would have to return with mail for the few residents in Fillmore in his coat pocket. It is believed that the Bardsdale post office remained in the Surdam store when James R. McKee became postmaster in February, 1891, and when Mrs. Elizabeth “Grandma” Chadsey took the post in December, 1891.

This little building may have been built by William Dorman sometime between 1887 and 1897 and, according to Harold Dorman his son, was located somewhere between the Bardsdale church and Owen St. It certainly was ready for business when Mr. Dorman was appointed postmaster in December 1897. Mail was stacked neatly on a table and given out from there. The building remained in use through several more postmasters including George Cutler, George Hoagland, Nathan Huff and Amanda Sherrard until 1906 when it was discontinued and mail was distributed through the Fillmore post office.

Over the years, the little building was moved several times and served as a storage shed, wood shed, garage, and chicken coop finally ending up on the corner of Bardsdale and Sespe Avenues. In 1988, Harold Dorman, founder of the Fillmore Historical Society, approached the owners of the building, Don and Jesse Wileman, who donated the building to the Fillmore Historical Museum. Mr. Dorman provided the funds to move and restored the building. The little post office now stands on the grounds of the Fillmore Historical Museum due to the efforts of Harold Dorman.

The Bardsdale post office and all the buildings at the Fillmore Historical Museum will be open this weekend, April 27th and 28th for Railfest.