A lost province: Alem

For once, not a lost place name, but a lost province! On May 1, 1873, an auxiliary post office was established in Alem, belonging to the jurisdiction of the 's-Hertogenbosch post office. The office manager was provided with an office name stamp. It was not until more than twelve years later that it also received a date stamp. That was on October 23, 1885. The impression of the stamp of 30 SEP 85 originates from the Mint's stamp book. This impression indicates when the stamp was delivered by the stamp maker. The auxiliary post office was transferred to the district of the Oss post office. The name stamp was replaced on August 5, 1902. The so-called small round stamp was replaced by a large round stamp exactly one year later, on August 5, 1903. On August 24, 1917, the large round stamp was replaced by a short bar stamp with the designation ALEM (NB) due to wear and tear. However, on July 16, 1924, the auxiliary post office was downgraded to a post station due to budget cuts. And the office holder had to surrender the date stamp. The station holder was allowed to retain the office name stamp, as we see in the form of a note in the stamp book.

The note that the auxiliary post office has been downgraded also appears on the newly issued stamp card for the Alem office. This was further confirmed in an official announcement from the State Post and Telecommunications (PTT): Announcement No. 7684S of July 9, 1924: Effective July 16, 1924, the auxiliary post, telegraph, and telephone office in Alem will be replaced by a station for postal, telegraph, and telephone services with telegram delivery. Mail delivery will be handled from Maren.

On January 23, 1931, the station master received a new date stamp as well as a new office name stamp. Both bearing the designation ALEM (NB). During the Second World War, Alem suffered greatly because it was a not insignificant place due to the ferry across the Meuse. According to a note accompanying the name stamp, this stamp was lost during the war. A new stamp was sent on November 19, 1945.

The village of Alem was situated in a prominent bend of the Meuse. However, in 1935, this bend was cut off by the construction of a canal. Alem now lay on an artificial island. But at the location where the ferry operated, a dam was built to create a permanent connection with the Bommelerwaard. And that area belonged to the province of Gelderland! The idea of ​​building a new village on the Brabant side of the canal was briefly considered, but that plan was abandoned. The ferry was, however, moved to the canal, providing a connection between Alem, Maren, and Kessel. It was decided, however, to implement a border correction between Gelderland and North Brabant. Alem became part of Gelderland. And that is why the stamps also had to be adjusted. This did not happen until 1958. A new open bar stamp was issued on January 11, 1958, and a new name stamp on February 26, 1958. No province name was included in the stamps. Some time before that, the post station of the Oss post office district had returned to the district of the 's-Hertogenbosch district post office, but a change occurred there as well. On July 2, 1973, the post station was transferred to the jurisdiction of the Zaltbommel post office. Until the curtain fell. For on January 2, 1976, the post station was closed. The stamps were returned and destroyed on January 30, 1976. Was this the end of postal services in Alem? No, because from September 13, 1977, Alem was included as a stop on the route of the mobile post office G from Zaltbommel. An official announcement was dedicated to this:

Mobile post office G

Announcements No. 34 of August 23, 1977: Offices, Establishment, etc. Effective September 13, 1977, postal services will be provided on a trial basis: a. in Velddriel, where an auxiliary post office is currently located; b. in Hurwenen and Nieuwaal, where a post station is currently located; c. in Zuilichem, where sessions are currently held; d. in Alem, Delwijnen, and Kerkwijk, where no postal establishment is currently present, by means of the mobile post office G, which is stationed daily at the same times in the said villages. For postal services, the mobile post office G falls under the jurisdiction of the Zaltbommel post office. Have the residents of Alem already become accustomed to the fact that they now belong to the province of Gelderland?