Williamsville residents prevail

WILLIAMSVILLE — The community of Williamsville has had a post office since the late 1800s. Thanks to an effort spearheaded by a committee of local citizens, it will continue to have one in the 21st century.

Nelson Hoy, chairman of Concerned Citizens to Save the Williamsville Post Office, said Monday the U.S. Postal Service has agreed to a 10-year contract on a post office facility to be located at the Bath-Highland Volunteer Fire Department Williamsville station. A letter dated March 10 and received by Hoy late last week made the decision official.

Hoy said while he has chaired the committee, Pam Webb of Williamsville deserves much of the credit for Williamsville keeping its post office. “She is the person who first sent out the rallying cry to save our post office. She has put much energy and persistence into this and kept everybody’s attention on the issue,” Hoy said. “Pam is the lightning rod that made this happen.”

Webb said she is “excited and relieved” and a bit surprised. “It doesn’t sound good (for the postal service) when you listen to the news. This was kind of like a David and Goliath battle at times, but the community’s really pulled together,” she said. “The committee deserved a lot of credit for what it did, and the people of Burnsville and Williamsville did everything we asked them to do.”

When contacted Tuesday morning, she had the contract in her possession. “I’m holding on tight to it,” she said.

The remote nature of Williamsville and the surrounding area was likely a factor in the decision to keep a post office there, Webb said. “We are not similar to some other areas where post offices are closing. We have a long distance to the next post office,” she said.

Hoy agreed. “I think one of the big reasons was the potential inconvenience for us to drive to Millboro or somewhere else to get our mail. I think the committee articulated this to the postal service very well,” he said.

Committee member Mel Herwald said he believes the effort has drawn the community together and made it more closely-knit. “I think this is a major victory. The USPS is in such a terrible state of affairs we are probably the only post office stated for demise that was saved,” Herwald said.

While the effort to save the post office was great, the work is far from over. The committee and fire department face a May 31 deadline for having the facility ready.

“The community’s got a real challenge,” Hoy said. “We will need volunteers if possible for labor and volunteers if possible for materials. The thing now is to get it built and ready to move in. The lease is effective June 1.”

Bath-Highland VFD chief Barry Marshall said the basic excavation work is done, but the footings for the facility still need to be dug. The septic tank was scheduled to be in place this week, he said. The post office will be an addition to the Bath-Highland VFD Williamsville station.

“We will push it hard and work for the best. I think the postal service will work with us,” Marshall said. “If we are not quite done, they have talked about either bringing in a trailer or letting us move in and work on the building while we’re in it.”

Marshall said he doesn’t anticipate the building being totally finished by the deadline, but believes it will be “very close.” He said the fire department and committee members will do some work, and some will be hired out.

“We have many local people in the construction business. We (fire department) will act as the contractor and hire subcontractors,” Marshall said. “We have many talented people in the community who have already pledged to help us.”

Despite the short time frame, both Marshall and the committee believe the facility can be ready. “Now it’s just rush, rush, rush. I’ll be pleased when we get it done, but right now it’s the high-stress time. We’ll get it,” he said.

Webb said volunteers have been working since the snow has melted. “Nobody expected the kind of winter we had, but I’m sure we can get it done,” she said. “I think people will pull together. Nobody can predict the future, but everything is pretty much lined up and people know what they have to do and are all willing to get it done.”

Herwald also expressed confidence the building would be ready. “We have many people on the committee with years and years of construction experience. I’m confident the building will be up in time for the June 1 deadline. It’s a hurdle, but not an insurmountable hurdle,” he said.

“I’m absolutely confident. I feel the community will rally and get it done,” Hoy said.

Webb said she appreciated the way the postal service responded to the citizens. “I’d like to thank each and every one of them, especially Dennis Perry (of the USPS facilities department) in Greensboro, N.C. He really worked diligently with the committee. He’s kind of been on our side. He wanted us to retain it. We appreciate everything they’ve done for us,” she said.

“I’m please with the response from the postal service,” Hoy added. “It took a huge amount of work to make it happen, but it happened. It has been a struggle and a lot of work for 14 months so far.”

Hoy said supervisors Stuart Hall in Bath and Jerry Rexrode in Highland were vital to the effort to keep the post office. “These two gentlemen and the willingness of their boards to back them up was instrumental in terms of making it possible,” Hoy said.

Marshall said Rexrode, who has a construction business, has pledged to send workers if needed at the end to get the facility done. “If we get in a bind, he has promised us some extra people and I believe we can depend on him,” Marshall said.

Both Hoy and Webb also cited Congressman Bob Goodlatte and his staff for their efforts. “Congressman Goodlatte has done a lot for us, and Senators Webb and Warner helped us out when we needed it. I think the political pressure helped,” Webb said.

Hoy said the postal service and congressional representatives have complimented the committee on the way the effort was conducted. “We were told we had a professionally run campaign. Instead of namecalling and accusations, we wanted to be as professional as we could,” he said.

Webb believes Williamsville keeping its post office was destined to happen. “I think it is just meant for us to have a post office. I want to praise the Lord and I think He had a lot do to with it,” she said. “It took a lot of work to get to this point. It is rewarding, and we are so thankful, but now the hard work begins, but where there’s a will there’s a way. I’m very happy for the community. A lot of people use it and really need it.”

She is waiting for the day, she said, when the American flag is raised at the new post office. “Old Glory’s going to fly over it.”