Reiff, California facts for kids

Reiff was once a small community in Lake County, California. It was located about 11 miles (18 km) east of a town called Lower Lake. Today, Reiff is no longer a populated place; it is known as a "former settlement."

What Was Reiff?

Reiff was not a large city, but rather a small gathering of people and buildings. It was an important stop along an old "stage line." A stage line was like an early bus route, where horse-drawn carriages (called stagecoaches) carried people, mail, and goods between different towns.

A Stop on the Stage Line

Being on a stage line meant Reiff was connected to other places. Travelers and mail carriers would pass through Reiff regularly. This connection helped the small community to exist and serve the needs of people traveling through the area.

The Post Office Story

One of the most important parts of Reiff was its post office. A post office is where people send and receive letters and packages. The Reiff post office was open for many years, helping people in the area stay in touch with the outside world.

• The first post office in Reiff opened in 1881.
• It operated until 1918, though it moved its location a couple of times within the area.
• After a break, the post office reopened in 1923 and continued to serve the community until 1941.

Who Was John Reiff?

The settlement of Reiff was named after a person named John Reiff. He was the very first postmaster for the community. A postmaster is the person in charge of a post office. Naming the place after him was a way to honor his role in starting the post office there.

Why Did Reiff Disappear?

Many small settlements like Reiff no longer exist today. This can happen for several reasons. Sometimes, new roads or transportation methods (like cars and trains) made stage lines less important. People might have moved to bigger towns for work or better services. Over time, the population of Reiff likely decreased until it was no longer considered an active community.