Residents and Officials Press to Keep a Post Office in Tariffville

What was supposed to be a temporary closure of the Tariffville Post Office is looking more permanent. The post office closed its doors last month due to structural concerns and has yet to reopen. 

But there are efforts underway to keep a post office in Tariffville.

The building was evacuated February 4 during a period of significant snowfall at the request of the landlord. Since the evacuation, Simsbury officials and the Tariffville Village Association have worked to try to keep a post office located in the village, efforts Deputy First Selectman John Hampton called a “multi-tiered battle plan.” 

First up, last week’s robo call (a recorded telephone call) to encourage Tariffville residents to fill out a survey issued by the United States Postal Service. The survey asks residents about their use of the Tariffville Post Office as well as the frequency of those transactions, stated a March 2 U.S. Postal Service press release. Comments on services utilized at the Simsbury Post Office are also part to the survey. According to the release, a return date of Tuesday, March 15 is requested. 

The call also directed residents to the Tariffville Village Association’s website, where ways to help keep a post office in town are listed. In addition to competing the survey, other ways residents can help is to sign a petition being circulated by volunteers of the village association, writing a letter to Postal Service officials, e-mailing their local congressman and senator, and attending a public hearing April 5. 

Hampton said the petition is available at different locations in the village, including , Valley Barber Shop, Beauty by Jennie, the and . 

Additionally, he said, “We’re having people write letters to Postal Officials, U.S. Rep. (Chris) Murphy, Sen. (Richard) Blumenthal. Basically, we’re just banging the drum.” 

First Selectman Mary Glassman also wrote a letter to U.S.P.S. District Manager Kimberly Peters protesting the closing of the Tariffville Post Office. 

“The Tariffville Post Office is a critical resource for the residents who live in the village,” she wrote, calling it “a community treasure, a historical site, an economic anchor, and a major gathering place for locals to meet and share information.”

Closing the branch of the post office in the village, the letter said, “would be devastating to our community.”

Glassman listed two locations where the post office could be relocated. The two locations within the village include 14 Winthrop Street and 38 Main Street — across the street from where it was located.

Hampton said it appears that the post office has moved out of its location at 39 Main Street. But, he said, “We haven’t heard anything definite.”

The town has been working closely with Murphy’s office, Hampton said, in an effort to remedy the situation. 

“He and his office are monitoring the situation and putting pressure on the post office to stay,” said Hampton. 

In the meantime, without the post office services in the village, Tariffville residents currently travel to the Simsbury Post Office on Hopmeadow Street to get their mail. They do have the option of home delivery.

Residents are invited to attend a with the U.S.P.S. regarding the post office on Tuesday, April 5 at 7 p.m., where they can share their comments and concerns. The meeting will be held at in Tariffville.