Rhode Island Tercentenary Issue First Day Cover
300th Anniversary of the Settlement of Rhode Island
Issued on May 4, 1936 in Providence, RI - Scott #777

Unofficial Town Cancel - Mapleville, RI
1st John B. Kilton Cachet - Planty 777-61e

The first Post Office in Mapleville, (Burrillville Township, Providence County) Rhode Island  was established on April  26, 1850. The first Postmaster was Daniel Whipple. The post office was disestablished on August 28, 1899 and the name changed to Oakland. The second Mapleville Post Office was established on January 22, 1902 with Walter R. Scott as postmaster. The Post Office is currently in operation under Postmaster James P. Cahill appointed on November 7, 1987.

Daniel S. Whipple was born on January 15, 1815 in Burrillville Township to Ziba and Mary Sayles Whipple. He was married in 1840 to Almira Alby, (born 1814) and they had two children; Frederic and Ellen. He died in Providence, Rhode Island on September 12, 1872. He is listed in the Census of 1860 as a woolen manufacturer.

The only Walter Scott residing in Burrillville during the correct time period that I was able to locate is listed as a servant on the 1900 Burrillville Census. It is possible, however that by 1902 he was the postmaster listed above.

Mapleville is home to Metech International, a leader in the precious metal reclamation industry. The company does a multi-million dollar business recovering gold, silver and other metals from used computers and other electronic devices. Most of the metal that is recovered is resold to electronic manufacturers.

Sources:
Check List of Rhode Island Post Offices 1790-1994 - Del Beaudreau
Rhode Island Postal History: The Post Offices - Merolla, Jackson & Crowther