When the pioneers began settling in Coniston in the early 1900's, one of the major hurdles they had to overcome was the lack of postal services to the area. Without a post office in Coniston, the townspeople were forced to walk all the way to Sudbury to send or receive mail - an arduous journey even in the best of weather conditions. To solve this problem, the community petitioned the federal government for a post office in Coniston. The government agreed to the request, but in order to establish postal services, the community needed a name (up until that time, Coniston was an unorganized, unnamed village of miners, loggers, and farmers). One villager, Dennis O'Brien, volunteered to help the community come up with a name. Through the submission of numerous suggestions by the townsfolk, the name Coniston was chosen.

With a village name approved, the first post office was established in Coniston and Mr. O'Brien became the town's first post master.

Material compiled from The Coniston Story.