Postmaster Bill Callahan is back sorting mail at the Elmwood post office.
"I'm loving it," said Callahan. "I enjoy seeing the people and meeting the people again."
But for almost 7 weeks Callahan couldn't work at the Elmwood station. It was closed after a tornado ripped through town. The clock in the lobby still reads 6 minutes past 8, the time the storm hit on June 5.
A mobile facility across the street still provides some minor services.
For a while there were rumors the postal service might shut down the Elmwood post office permanently because of damage to the back side of the building.
"We were concerned that Farmington or Yates City might be asked to absorb that business," said Peoria County Board member Brad Harding, whose been a strong advocate for Elmwood during the town's recovery phase.
"Let's face it, if we eliminate one post office that might help the postal service save some costs. But the cost to the community of Elmwood would have been too great."
Elmwood moved quickly. Work was done to insure the integrity of the building. The post office was rewired for power and phone service and the postal service decided to keep the post office open.
"We had to wait for special parts to be delivered. When they came in we were able to get everything put back together and get the building turned on," said Bob Tannock, who helped rewire the post office.
The Elmwood post office first opened in 1847. Before it re-opened on Thursday many residents had to pick up their mail in Farmington, 8 miles away.
"I would have to close the office and drive over there," said Janice Nash. "We were going back and forth between the bank and a couple of other businesses. We'd share picking up the mail for everybody. It's a big relief to be able to walk across the street and get my mail."
"I think if the post office wasn't here there would be a lot fewer people coming up town," said Callahan. "The more people you get up town the more alive the community is going to be."
Twitter
Connect With Us