CAMDEN — Camden celebrated the 100-year anniversary of its post office Saturday, May 16, with the swearing in of the 31st postmaster, Stephan P. Dalessandro. Winners of the stamp contest were announced and a tour of the post office capped off the afternoon’s activities.

On the Village Green, opening remarks were delivered by Jody Landrith, assistant vice president of Camden National Bank, and Kermit (Kert) Ingraham (the “Waving Man”), a World War II Army veteran, led the public in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.

Meredith Dalessandro, the postmaster’s mother and minister emeritus for the Hebron Community Baptist Church, led the invocation.

Camden Town Manager Patricia Finnegan also delivered remarks, while Kathleen L. Walker, finance manager for Northern New England District of the U.S. Postal Service, administered the oath of office. 

“Thinking about how we communicate these days, we can text and we can email, but there is nothing that quite takes the place of a mom getting a card on Mother’s Day, or a recent graduate getting a check in the mail from their grandparents, or sending a love letter,” said Finnigan. “I think we will always have a United States Post Office.”

“I remain thankful that I hired Stephen for this position,” said Walker. “It’s very rare to find somebody who has the eagerness and dedication to serving community that Stephen has shown these past months.”

Walker spoke of others who served as postmasters — Abraham Lincoln, William McKinley and Harry Truman.

Neither snow, nor rain, nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.

“These words have become a part of American pop culture,” said Walker. “These are words that guide all of us in the postal service every day.”

After being sworn in, Dalessandro spoke to the audience.

“It is an honor to be here and be the postmaster of Camden,” he said. “I was blessed to come to Camden on a couple of occasions to view the office and the employees. After seeing the work ethic they demonstrated I knew that this would be a good place to come and work.”

In 1985 the Camden post office building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Dalessandro said that in a given year, Camden post office drivers travel 43,000-plus miles in vehicles. Couriers walk more than 10,800 miles a year in Camden.

The definition of the word “post” originally meant any of a number of riders or runners posted at intervals to carry mail or messages in relays along a route.  

Though it’s his first appointment as a postmaster, Dalessandro has served the Postal Service in other capacities around the state. He has served as officer in charge, supervisor of mail delivery and been part of the staff at the Portland headquarters.

“I started my career as a simple clerk in Jay,” he said. “That was 20 years ago. Being postmaster of Camden is the pinnacle of my career and from here I go into retirement. The town of Camden has a home feel to it everywhere you go. People smile and they welcome you. Why wouldn’t you want to be here?”

Camden Select Board member Leonard Lookner recalled the issue over keeping the post office in Camden.

“I don’t know if anyone remembers the battle we went through years ago, which was headed by Chris Glass,” he said. “It almost seemed irrelevant at the time, but it was when there was a lot of publishing in Camden, and they were going to move the post office out of town because it wasn’t large enough to serve the community. There was a huge political fight to keep the post office in town. Only through the good diligence of a number of members of our community did it stay. And we’re all thrilled it has.”

State Rep. Joan Welsh (D-Rockport) commented on the ceremony.

“It was just lovely and he seems like a great Mainer to be in our midst,” she said. “He has a good sense of humor and a real dedication to our community, which is great. The post office is such a hub for a community, so I think he’s going to do a great job of keeping that going.”

State Sen. Dave Miramant (D-Maine) commented on the position.

“He seems very enthusiastic about the role and for me the post office has always been about bringing people together,” he said. “Communication brings us together to help during good times and bad and I think he has that spirit about making sure it works.”

Later in the afternoon Karen Brace announced the category winners for the Design-a-Stamp Contest. They will be displayed in the post office lobby.

Stamp Winners:

Thank You Mail Carriers Award: Christine Griffin (age 3)

Estella Ross (6): Welcome Spring Award

Alana Smith (5): Most Colorful Award

Al Griffin (8): Double Century Award

Sebastian Sprague (6): Most Original Award

Estella Sprague (7): Most Unique Idea Award

Claire Wilson (9):Camdenis Blooming Award

Happy Birthday Award: Al Griffin (8).

The afternoon ended with Dalessandro giving a guided tour of the post office. For many it was the first time in its 100-year history to go behind the scenes. The accompanying photo gallery is of the sidewalk sales and behind the counter and walls of P.O. boxes at the post office.

Reach Chris Wolf at news@penbaypilot.com