Hawleyville Post Office

Lowers The Flag And Closes . . . . . . . . . . . For Now

By Nancy K. Crevier

Laura Smolen started out the day in tears, but by the time midmorning rolled around Saturday, February 14, the Hawleyville Post Office clerk was surrounded by supportive customers and back to all smiles — the face that patrons had come to associate with service at the Route 25 branch of the United States Postal Service (USPS).

But it was the last time for a while that many regular users of the small post office figured they would see Ms Smolen’s smiling face, or that of fellow clerk Rich Ruscitto or postmaster Mark Favale.

On January 9, the USPS announced that it would temporarily close the Hawleyville Post Office, citing an inability to close a lease agreement with the landlord of the building that houses that post office, Housatonic Railroad. Coupled with unsafe and uncomfortable conditions for staff and customers at the present site, the USPS felt that it would best serve its customers as a whole by moving the business of the facility to the Newtown Commerce Road office until a permanent home for the Hawleyville Post Office is found.

A grassroots organization, Save Hawleyville Post Office, immediately sprang up to suspend this action by the USPS, collecting more than 1,400 signatures on petitions, and gaining the support of Congressman Christopher Murphy, Newtown First Selectman Joe Borst, and area residents. While the group was not successful in halting the February 14 closing, on February 4, the office of Congressman Murphy issued a press release announcing that the USPS had procured final approval for funding to build a new Hawleyville Post Office and would expedite that work, hoping for a late summer reopening.

On February 4, the USPS also issued a press release that noted, among other cost-saving measures, that it would halt all construction of new postal facilities. However, USPS spokesperson Maureen Marion said February 13 that the urgency of the Hawleyville situation put the funding for the Hawleyville Post Office out of the new construction funding and into emergency funding, assuring that funds to relocate the post office were, indeed, available.

Customers at the Hawleyville Post Office were recipients of the staff’s hospitality on Saturday morning, with a large pot of coffee and juices provided as customers waited in short lines to fetch their mail. Other customers had donated pastries, bagels, and cookies to sweeten the final hours. Posted above the coffee bar was a thank-you note from the staff to patrons and the Save Hawleyville Post Office organization, reflecting the underlying positive mood to an otherwise somber occasion. “Because of all of you, we look forward to serving you again ‘Down the Road,’” said the closing paragraph, signed Mark, Laura & Rich.

Nick Tramontano of Brookfield and Jim Mitchell of Newtown echoed that sentiment. “I can’t wait for [the post office] to come back,” said Mr Tramontano, and then turned to wave to Mr Favale, saying, “See you at the new place!”

Jim Mitchell was picking up his mail for the last time on Saturday morning. “It is kind of sad, but hopefully, it’s only for a short period of time,” he said.

The nest of postal boxes had been removed on Friday and relocated to the Newtown facility, requiring all box holders to pick up and send mail at the windows on the final day. “We were surprised,” said Ms Smolen, “but the good thing is that now our post box holders can use the same keys, because they are the very same boxes that were here.”

 Dave and Renee Baade, members of the Save Hawleyville Post Office group, stood at the foot of the walkway to the post office in the chilly Saturday morning breeze, continuing to collect signatures to a petition supporting a new Hawleyville Post Office. “It’s unfortunate. [The staff of Hawleyville Post Office] really treat people with respect and act like they value the patronage. It’s kind of a sad day for our community,” Mr Baade said, adding that on a positive note, however, he had yet to have even one person refuse to sign the petition — including Governor M. Jodi Rell, who stopped by late Saturday morning. The Baades said that they preferred not to deal with the Newtown Commerce Road branch where mail for Hawleyville patrons was to be redirected beginning Tuesday, February 17. “It the typical unsatisfactory post office experience there,” said Mr Baade. “We’ll probably get our mail in Brookfield.”

Joann Gorman chatted with Dave and Robin Baade on her way out of the post office. “I’m extremely saddened,” said Ms Gorman. “This is the benchmark of what postal service should be,” she said. Ms Gorman said that she had already sent three letters to Congressman Murphy asking that he “make sure this situation is resolved in keeping a post office in Hawleyville.”

Robin and Tom Telesco of Newtown will switch from picking up mail for their mail order home business at Hawleyville to a pickup service, rather than travel to the other side of Newtown for their mail, they said. “What you have here is customer service from years gone by, in a system that is usually pretty cold,” Mr Telesco said. “They would be foolish not to open a new one in Hawleyville,” added Ms Telesco, praising the ability of the staff over the years to balance the needs of patrons. “They worked to make sure people were happy,” said Ms Telesco.

“It’s been a long, glorious run, and it is sad to see it go,” Cliff Beers said. Mr Beers moved to the area in 1948 and recalled when the post office operated out of the former Honan’s General Store next door to the present site. “These people have done a great job. Hopefully, we will have the post office back soon,” he said.

Stephanie Podewell from Congressman Murphy’s office and Newtown State Representative Chris Lyddy were also on hand Saturday morning to pay respects to staff and clientele. “The Hawleyville Post Office has become part of the landscape, part of the material that makes up the town,” said Rep Lyddy. “That’s what makes Newtown so special. It’s important to try to protect and preserve these things,” he said. “I’m very hopeful that the Hawleyville Post Office will reopen. Having this project pushed from Chris Murphy’s office is helpful in putting this forward. The people who work here will have a safe place to work and still be rooted in our community,” added Rep Lyddy.

USPS New Space Acquisition specialist Bill Moncrief met Tuesday, February 10, with Newtown First Selectman Joe Borst and indicated that two sites in the vicinity of the present Hawleyville Post Office were being considered for the new Hawleyville Post Office, but that the USPS process required the project be put out to bid. An informational public hearing is scheduled for Monday, March 2, at 7 pm, in the meeting room of the C.H. Booth Library.

As morning stretched toward the closing hour of noon, a small group gathered outside of the post office. Mr Favale emptied the drop box for the final time at the Route 25 location, then slowly and steadily lowered the flag. With the flag cradle gently in his arms, he turned to wave and left his final greeting, “See you down the road!”