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The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States. Most people are not aware that it is one of the few government agencies explicitly authorized by the United States Constitution!
The USPS can trace its roots to 1775. It was during the Second Continental Congress that Benjamin Franklin was appointed the first postmaster general. It became a cabinet-level position in 1792 which made the postmaster general ninth in line for the presidency of the United States. That changed in 1971 under the Postal Reorganization Act. USPS employs over 574,000 workers and operates over 218,000 vehicles. It is presently in a financial crisis having defaulted on a $5.5 billion payment owed to the Treasury Department. So what does this mean to all of us in Rutherford County?
The answer possibly is bringing back a post office inside a community store. It has happened recently at the corner of US 221 South and Chase High Road. Rutherford County has one of the very first post offices in the United States which is now inside a store. The well known Childers truck stop is the location.
Roy Childers opened his truck stop on September 1st, 1986 on 10 acres encompassing the corner of US Highway 221 South and Chase High Road. The business lost part of its 221 frontage when construction of the new highway began recently. The on going highway construction should be finished, hopefully, in 2013. Meanwhile Childers truck stop, after 15 months, is open in a new building and it also became a 24 hour post office. The truck stop never closes - 365 days a year.
The Village Post Office, Harris Community has now been open for about five weeks. It presently has “if it fits, it ships” postal boxes inside, stamps, mail and an outside mail box. The future, which is unfolding, will include scales to weigh and eventually post offices boxes to rent.
With the USPS in financial trouble, the solution may well be the return to post offices in stores. Years ago that was commonplace in most communities. There were hardly any separate building. The bottom line savings from this type operation may well be the solution to the present USPS problem.
Jeff Childers, Roy’s eldest son and now owner, is very happy about the post office. He believes it is another way that Childers truck stop can serve the community. So, in addition to groceries, dry goods and a full service restaurant, people can also buy stamps and come to utilize the postal service. It’s is the only place in Rutherford County where you can get something to eat, go shopping and mail letters in the middle of the night.
Jeff plans to expand the friendly store on the corner and bring back many community services which his dad started. He remembers, as a young boy, how his dad’s store became a focal part of the community. Already a “coffee club” has emerged and meets every day at 5 p.m. Local folks get together to enjoy friendship, swap stories and have a cup or two of coffee.
As Rutherford County continues to attract new businesses, the Village Post Office is yet another example of the reemergence of a great county. With the addition of Facebook, Horsehead, Valley Fine Foods and now the Village Post Office at Childers truck stop, Rutherford County’s future is looking better all the time. Aren’t you glad you live in Rutherford County?
