Story Published:
Dec 22, 2010 at 7:05 AM MST
Story Updated:
Dec 22, 2010 at 2:31 PM MST
Near CODY, WYOMING - People who live in Wapiti, Wyoming, are celebrating an early Christmas gift. Santa saved their Post Office or the Post Office did.
Wapiti isn’t a town. It’s a place. A beautiful place 25 miles from Cody, on the road to Yellowstone. It’s got a church, and a grade school, a few houses, a gas station, and, some interesting residents, including Big Horn Sheep.
It’s also got a log Post Office. Some locals said it’s been in this building, since the thirties, or forties. For years, Tim Proffit has been the Post Master here, sorting the mail, putting out the M and M’s for his customers, and making them feel at home.
For instance, the typical conversation goes like this: Tim Proffitt says, “Hello Bob.” Bob says, “Just some mail here.” Tim answsers, “I’ll try and get it out sometime.” Or, with another customer, he asks, “That’s all you needed?” She answers, “That’s all I needed.” Tim dismisses her, “Alright, you’re free to go.” Wapiti Postmaster Tim Proffitt said his relationship with the locals is, “They would miss the harassment and I harass everyone that walks in the door.”
But, the owner of the building that houses the Post Office, and a former restaurant, is selling it. He gave the Post Office until December 31st to vacate, and the Postal Service is cutting costs. Wapiti neighbors heard that their Post Office might close.
Bill Claggett is one of many, who called Lummis, Enzi, and Barasso. He said, “They said, we know, we know, we know. There are a lot of local residents that were very concerned when word got out that they were going to close the Post Office.”
So, the Postal Service started looking for another home for the Wapiti Post Office, weeks passed, then they finally announced they found one, in another log building four miles down the road. Wapitites are celebrating. So is Tim.
Lauren Sciba, was working with her horse, when we asked her what she thought about keeping the Wapiti Post Office. She replied, “With the weather, sometimes you can’t always make it 25 miles to town to get to the Post Office. I definitely think it’s important that Wapiti is recognized as a community and has it’s own Post Office.”
Claggett said Tim, and the assistant Postmaster Ida would be severely missed if the Post Office closed down. “Tim is as much a part of of the community as anyone, and they are really respected and loved members of the community.” And, Tim sums it up with, “These people needed a Post Office.”
The new Post Office location is next to a restaurant four miles away., but it's not ready for occupancy yet. It has to be remodeled first. So, the Postal Service is bringing in a temporary trailer that will be parked at the new location.
Proffitt commutes nearly 90 miles, round-trip, each day to get to his job at the Wapiti Post Office. He said he likes the commute, because he gets to watch elk, and deer, and sometimes bison in the valley.
;)
