Middle Township Post Offices to Be Renamed for Historic Figures

MIDDLE TOWNSHIP, N.J. — Two post offices in Middle Township will soon bear the names of prominent historical figures, following the passage of federal legislation backed by the full New Jersey congressional delegation. The post office in the Rio Grande section of the township, located at 1087 Route 47 near Railroad Avenue, will be named in honor of Carlton H. Hand, a decorated World War II Army lieutenant and lifelong Rio Grande resident. Hand, who died in 1961, earned a Silver Star, a Purple Heart, and a battlefield commission for his service in Italy.
In Whitesboro, the post office at 207 W. Main St. will be renamed for George Henry White, a Reconstruction-era congressman and co-founder of the community. White served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1887 to 1901, representing North Carolina’s 2nd District. He was the only Black member of Congress during the final years of his tenure and later helped establish Whitesboro as a planned residential community for African Americans. The U.S. Senate approved the renaming measures in June 2024. The changes follow years of advocacy by local organizations and public officials, including U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew and former Mayor Tim Donohue. Ceremonies to officially dedicate the renamed facilities are expected to take place in the fall. Post office naming bills are common in Congress and must meet federal criteria, which typically prohibit naming buildings for living individuals, with exceptions for certain officials and veterans. For updates on ceremony dates or facility changes, visit www.middletownship.com.