October 16, 1889-February 27, 2021
It’s hard to believe but… yesterday the Nahcotta Post Office was up and running — business as usual. Tomorrow, there will be no Post Office in Nahcotta. None. Nada. Zip (and not as in Zip Code). Here is the notice that postal patrons and staff received yesterday:
NOTICE
NAHCOTTA CONTRACT POST OFFICE
POSTAL CUSTOMERS
February 27, 2021
The contract that serves this office has been terminated by the supplier. We are very thankful for the years of service they have provided to the community.
Unfortunately no other supplier has been found and in order to continue your mail service, we are providing Post Office Boxes at the Ocean Park Post Office located at 25592 Vernon Ave. Ocean Park USA. Effective Monday, March 1. You will continue to use your same mailing address including your Nahcotta zip code. The only difference is that your PO Box will be physically located at the Ocean Park Post Office.
You also have the option of rural delivery to your home. That service would be provided by Ocean Park and would entail using the Ocean Park zip code along with your physical address.
We realize this is not an optimal situation, but we stand ready to help you with the transition…
Employees Gretchen Goodson and Kathy Olson had no more notice than did their postal patrons: told yesterday (Saturday); no job as of tomorrow (Monday).
Plus — I am told that the part about “no other supplier has been found” is just plain NOT TRUE. Apparently, no “search” was made. The word on the street is that the new owner of the building housing the Post Office is most eager to be the new supplier. Apparently, the offer was never made –that opportunity was not presented.
Nahcotta Mail Delivery circa 1920s
I’m not sure what recourse anyone has. When Oysterville’s post office was threatened some years back, we appealed to our U.S. Congresswoman, Jaime Herrera Beutler. She sent two of her aides to talk to some of us. I don’t know how much good any of that did but suffice it to say, we still have our Post Office, though on a smaller scale than previously. But we don’t have to travel to Ocean Park for our mail, nor do we have an Ocean Park address.
I would urge all of us — most especially, Nahcotta residents, of course, but all of us other rural folk, too, to contact our elected officials: Jaime Herrera Beutler, 360/695-6292; Patty Murray, 202-224-2621; Maria Cantwell, 202-224-3441. Today!!!
Please continue service to the Nahcotta, Washington post office.
The new owner of the current building is more than willing to enter into contract with you for rent.
Thank you
Sherry, you need to write your plea to one of the people I listed in my blog. Writing to me won’t help.
Sydney
I’m sure you can thank Mr. Trump and his political appointee Mr. Dejoy for this. Serving the public was not in their interests, but rather how many points they could make with their voting base. I don’t doubt we will see more of this until the Biden administration manages to get rid of Mr. Dejoy and others like him.
I’m sure Mr. Dejoy is not helping matters, but the USPS has been “after” small post rural offices for a number of years. We went through a similar problem in Oysterville several years ago. In a nation where “bigger” and “more” are considered desirable, we are definitely under siege — probably considered “not cost effective.”
Sydney
Well, I got one of your blogs today. And what a surprise when I read what had happened. Rural residents didn’t get time to mount an appeal! Boo! Hope folks follow your suggestion and let their representatives know! So sorry, but glad I connected with your blog, if only for a passing breeze.
Wow! I wish it would work both ways!!
Sydney
OMG, is this likely to involved the Oysterville PO as well??? This is outrageous! I am shocked that this can happen after such a strong turn out in support of our local PO’s some time back. Even with reduced hours, it is much better to be able to get our mail here than drive to Ocean Park. (Not to berate the staff in O Pk, because most of them have been in Oville PO and did a great job.) I’m flabbergasted to say the least!!
Hello Pat Williams! Thanks for weighing in about the Nahcotta P.O. I don’t think there are any immediate worries about Oysterville. Apples and oranges. Nahcotta is a “Contract Post Office” which means that the USPO has a contract to lease the space from the owner. I’m not clear on the rest of the arrangement, but it may be that the bldg. owner is responsible for hiring/paying personnel etc. I remember there being similar “contract post offices in large department stores in San Francisco years ago. Apparently there aren’t many left and the Postal Service is trying to divest themselves of those contract post offices. On the other hand, Oysterville is a “regular” U.S. Post Office just like any other one and it simply rents space in the Oysterville Store. Everything else about it runs like other “regular” P.O.s. It is quite small in terms of volume of business and several years ago USPS was trying to consolidate some of those little P.O.s I think we were saved because we are the oldest P.O. in the state, but I don’t think we’ll luck out forever. Or at least that is my understanding.about the differences between Nahcotta’s situation and ours. In any event, Nahcotta needs our help right now. Call your congress people or, better yet, the postal employees that the new Nahcotta store owner put in her letter. Thanks, Sydney
Wow what a shock, a friend of mine who has a P O Box in Nahcotta told me this today. I have had my P O Box for 23 years now and it would have been nice to be informed. That’s customer service—but I guess that is part of the business world’s past now! I will definitely send a note to our representatives and hope they do something. The lie about Colleen Raftis terminating the lease is not acceptable!!
Patsy