Residents Vow to Fight Plan to Close Post Office

LUMBERVILLE, Pa. - February 28, 2007 (WPVI) -- The U.S. Postal Service is delivering an unwanted message to a Bucks County community. The post office at 3741 River Road is closing.

Residents said the move is more than just an inconvenience; it's a blow to their history and their way of life.

Since the 1830s the Lumberville Store has served as the local post office, handling mail for this quaint and quiet river town. Every day residents head to a cubbyhole in the back of the store to pick up what's come in.

Many sit and go through their mail while having a cup of coffee and chatting with neighbors at what's called the muffin table.

"It's just convenient. This is where you meet people, towns people," said Fred Glasby.

"The most wonderful thing about this most wonderful town is that we all come in here every day and see each other," said Annette Jaffee.

But the U.S. Postal Service has notified store owner Nancy Shanley and her husband that at the end of March this little satellite post office will close. Residents are upset.

"How many of these are left in the united states?" wondered Carol DiSalvi. "You would think they would want to keep something so old."

"This is probably one of the oldest post office facilities. It's never been about profit here," said Nancy Shanley.

Financial analyst Dave Lees says he's figured out it could cost residents hundreds annually if they have to travel to Doylestown or another post office to get the mail they can now retrieve down the street.

"This makes no sense whatsoever. It's about $750 a year per family just on gas to pick up your mail," said Lees.

This is the fourth time since 1964 the Post Office has tried to close down operations at the store. Locals fought against it before and say they'll do that again.

"The options are not acceptable. We have to maintain a Lumberville address," said Bill Tinsman.

Attempts to reach a post office spokesman were unsuccessful. A meeting is set for Wednesday night at the store so residents can plan a strategy to save their tiny post office.

(Copyright 2007 by Action News and 6abc. All Rights Reserved.)