Mooseheart, IL: Closed/Post Office/CB&Q Depot

(Satellite)

William Shapotkin posted

Received this Email from a friend (Steve Bahnsen) who is a Post Office fan. It regards the closing of the Mooseheart, IL Post Office -- the building of which was originally the CB&Q Mooseheart station. Now that the Post Office no longer uses the facility, wonder what the disposition of the building will be?

"Here are some notes and photos about the recently closed post office in Mooseheart, a rather novel operation. While on a recent Sunday drive along the Fox River 38 miles west of Chicago, I decided to visit Mooseheart to get another picture of their post office.  That never happened because the guard told me their post office was closed in April of 2026!

Mooseheart was developed by the Loyal Order of the Moose fraternity in 1913 for the use of its member's children as a school.  It is in a rural setting between Aurora and Batavia along Illinois Highway 31.  A separate post office was established in 1914.When it was converted to a Classified Branch of the Batavia post office in 1973, Mooseheart was a First Class office. An accompanying picture shows the post office building as it existed for many years. Off hand I cannot identify the white flag that was flying.  Perhaps it was the Bicentennial flag in 1976 or even the Illinois flag for some reason. 

Of interest is the postmark in my collection that used two words "Moose Heart." The office was always named as just one word "Mooseheart".  That is used on all of their street signs yet today. In later years the office was opened four hours daily by a clerk from Batavia.  And since this was a Branch and not an independent post office it could be closed at will with no justification required."

Dennis DeBruler commented on William's post
This is a reminder that the CB&Q used to go up both sides of the Fox River. 1950 Aurora North Quad @ 24,000