A while back I said I was going to have an occasional series of pictures of unique post offices around the state. Then, you know, I forgot all about it until Audrey posted some beautiful photos of the post office in the hometown of Hope Creamery. As is happening all over the country, many of these small town post offices are being considered for shutdown or consolidation. On a business level, it makes sense; as I heard some radio commentators saying the other day, "Why would you keep a post office open in a town of 15 people?" But if you've lived or traveled through some of these towns, you realize that the post office isn't just a business, but a vital part of the town and its social structure. In some cases, closing the office would mean residents (some of whom are quite elderly) will have to travel considerably farther. I don't know the answer; the post office can't keep hemorrhaging cash--that's not even remotely sustainable. But it's hard to see these towns lose something that means so much to them, much more than to we city dwellers, who have post offices all over the place and can buy stamps at our ATMs and Cub Foods.
So, back to post offices, this one in the town of Whalan.
How sweet! And so conveniently located right down the street from the Aroma Pie Shop. A perfect place to visit if you've been exploring the Root River Trail, or maybe checking out the Old Gribben Mill.
Another gem of a post office with character. Thanks for sharing this photo, Amy, and for the shout out to me over at Minnesota Prairie Roots.
Posted by: Minnesota Prairie Roots | August 02, 2011 at 11:12 AM
I was just there! Whalan seemed to me a town out of time--besides that pie shop, anyway. That puts a person very much in the present. Deeee-lish.
Posted by: Emily | August 03, 2011 at 04:11 PM
What kind of pie did you have?
Posted by: Amy Rea | August 03, 2011 at 04:29 PM