From Historical Rutland: an illustrated history of Rutland, Vermont, from the granting of the charter in 1761 to 1911 by Rev. F. E. Davison, Rutland, Vt.: P.H. Brehmer, 1911, page 42:
The Post Office
A post office department was established by the State of Vermont in 1784, several years prior to her admission into the Union, for the purpose, as stated, "of promulgating the laws, conveying timely notice to the freemen of the state of all proprietary proceedings and other matters of importance to the public, which can in no other way be effected so extensively and attended with so small expense, as by the appointment of regular posts for the conveying of the same to the parts of this state."
To carry out this design, five post offices were established, of which Rutland was one. These were placed under the same regulations as those of the general government. Post riders were allowed two pence [43] per mile for their labor. Anthony Haswell, then of Bennington, was appointed postmaster-general. This department existed until the admission of the state into the Union in 1791, at which time the office in Rutland was in charge of Frederick HilI; it was reorganized by the United States authorities March 20, 1793. the same postmaster continuing until 1796. when Nathaniel Gove was appointed.
The Rutland Post Office has been located at various periods on Main Street, West Street and Washington Street.
The last mentioned was a brick building 100 ft. long, containing three stores, the Town Hall and Masonic Lodge Room and west of it was the George A. Tuttle & Company building where the Rutland Weekly Herald was published. Upon the erection of the present Federal building in 1854 the post office was removed to that location. The office became presidential in 1853, when John Cain was appointed Postmaster. February 2 1, 1853. Subsequently, a sub-station was opened on Merchants Row for the greater convenience of the public, and the office in 1911 was transferred to entirely new quarters on West Street, only one clerk being left at the Court Street building. At this writing the question of the erection of a new $250,000 building in the business part of the city is being agitated. The post office in West Rutland was established March 30, 1826, and at Center Rutland May 1, 1850.