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Sarah Weatherall has been postmaster i in Columbus for the past ten years. When she resigned a month ago to move to Oshawa, Canada Post decided not to keep the post office in Columbus open, ending a tradition in the hamlet that began in 1850. Instead of the post office residents of Columbus will now be picking up their mail in the green "'group boxes" Friday, the Colunibus Post Office in picture on this page. Last down for good. (See story) 136 years of tradition in Columbus Another piece of rural tradition died last Friday afternoon when the Columbus Post Office closed, forever. Residents of the small hamlet bet- ween Oshawa and Port Perry will now pick up their mail in green boxes rather than in the front room of Sheila Weatherall's home, which had been the Post Office for the past decade. When Mrs. Weatherall submitted her resignation as postmaster a month ago (she's moving to Oshawa) Canada Post decided not to open another office in Columbus and the 65 residents of the communi- ty who had full mail service learn- ed of the decision about a week ago. "They weren't very happy about it all, but they are resigned to it (the closing) I guess," said Mrs. Weatherall last Friday afternoon as she prepared to shut down the office for good. She said Canada Post has been looking for ways to shut down the small offices in hamlets but often were thwarted by the union. Her I fireworks still on despite The Scugog Chamber of Com- merce annual fireworks display on July 1 likely will take place again this year, despite problems getting liability insurance. A Chamber of Commerce representative said Monday that Don Osmond, the man hired to set the fireworks off has agreed verbal- ly to waive any liability claims in the event that he or a member of his crew is injured. And the Chamber of Commerce has been able to negotiate a one-day policy with Hand Fireworks Com- pany to cover liability for the public. Many groups and organizations are having problems this year get- ting liability insurance for fireworks displays, in light of some of the sky- high court settlements that have made headlines recently. LIFE INSURANCE insurance woes The arrangement the Chamber of Commerce has with the Hand Co. for July 1, provides $1 million in public liability coverage. Because of the fears about liabili- ty or damage claims, very strict crowd control procedures will be in place on July 1 for the display at the Port Perry waterfront. Birdseye Park, for example, will be totally off limits to the general public. The viewing areas for the public will -be the park behind Scugog Library and Palmer Park. Also, people wishing to view the fireworks from boats in Lake Scugog will be told to move well out into the middle of the lake. The Chamber of Commerce fireworks display on July 1 has pro- ved to be very popular with the public since it was started several years ago. DJ TAYLOR INSURANCE BROKERS LTD 170 Water Street North, Port Perry - 985-8416 Also see us about your Home, Auto, Farm, Commercial and Mortgage Insurance Needs. Post Office shut for goo decision to resign, she said, gave the Post Office the opportunity to close it down. Now, instead of being able to pick up their mail, post letters, buy money orders and send parcels Six days each week, the residents of Columbus will open a plain green "group box" on the street corner. They'll still be able to buy stamps at either of the two variety stores and post letters at a street-side box, but if they want further postal ser- vices like registered mail, money orders, special delivery and so on, they will have to go to Brooklin, Oshawa or Port Perry. Both the general stores in Colum- bus applied to get the post office ser- I "vice, but Canada Post declined. Savy ing money is the reason given. : Even though she was leaving' anyway, Mrs. Weatherall felt bad-! -4 ly that the tradition of the Post Of-: fice in the hamlet was coming to an! end, and she's going to miss the. customers who came through the! doors. "They are all very special to me. I love them and I'm going to miss ; them. And it's sad to see the end of an era,' she stated. According to hamlet records, Mrs. Weatherall is the seventh! Postmaster/mistress to hold the job, since the first Post Office was, established in the community in § 1850. An she's also the last. iy SCUGOG CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JULY 10 -- 1 12 We are now taking bookings for space on our Queen Street Mall. If you have not booked a spot for your organization ... PLEASE DO IT NOW! Contact: Larry Emmerson 985-7306 *1000 OFF 0 THE TOP A thousand dollar discount on every 186 Fiero 36 month C.C.P. FINANCING wa 1.8 MALE in stock during our Pe =a PONTIAC BUICK LIMITED 10 VANEDIWARD DRIVE, PORT PERRY - 985.0474 Tervieg Be Community thoes 1978 ANNIVERSARY 10th Bob Archer. John Convey, Gene Hurst, Wes Lane, Morley Parish, John Randle, Diane Richardson. SHOWROOM HOURS: Monday to Thursday ..... 9-9 Friday ................ 9-530 Saturday ................... 9.4