“Postal
service began Monday morning at Interlaken’s new post office on S. Main St.,” so
begins the clipping pasted into Dewitt’s Diary for this date.
The snippet
was the opening two paragraphs from an article in the February 2, 1960, Interlaken
Review.
Ground for
the new post office was broken in July 1960. Among those present for the event
were Mayor D. P. Norton, Postmaster John Kellogg, Covert Town Clerk J.C.
Wiggins, retired postal route carrier Joe Dickerson, Interlaken
Review editor
Duane Waid, Wheeler National Bank President Myron Bassette and Robert Rudy,
owner and contractor for the project. (Interlaken
Review, July
28,1960.)
Earlier that
year the former Bergen home, most recently occupied by the Pell family, was
torn down to make space for the building. The residence had survived the fire of
1880 which took out the buildings to the north.
 |
| The Bergen home circa 1900. To the left is the Robinson hotel. Interlaken Historical Society photo #1179 |
The new post
office replaced the one in use since 1908 in the former Case building. Shown
below, the four rural route carriers with their vehicles, lined up outside the
post office in 1934.
 |
| Interlaken Historical Society photo # 1155 Today the building on the right is gone, and the Case block is home to Alarmtech and Gunblack |
The new post
office was dedicated on April 9, 1961, with a program at the school and open
house at the Post Office.
 |
| From the 2001 American Legion Auxillary Birthday Calendar, Interlaken Historical Society collection |
 |
| Temporary repairs being made to the front of the Post Office after an overnight motor vehicle accident. Photo from the author's collection. |
To see the
articles on the new Post Office, click here
Dewitt’s Diary: Monday January 30,
1961
Temperature 6,
clear southwest wind.
Another cold day.
Snow blowing on the crust. We drove to Lodi this morning. I went to town this
afternoon.
Temperature 12 more clouds, west wind.
The new post
office is operating today.
