SHUTESBURY — Residents will continue to have a Post Office in the town center, with the U.S. Postal Service agreeing to renew its lease at the 8 Wendell Road site.
The announcement that service will not be interrupted was made late Friday afternoon by U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, who described the news as a “huge win for the community.” Representatives from Markey’s office spoke to residents at a May 21 rally on the town common.
“Following weeks of advocacy from my office, the federal delegation, the American Postal Workers Union, and, most of all, from the community, it is great news that the USPS has reversed course on its decision to close the Shutesbury Post Office,” Markey said.
A message had been posted on the Shutesbury Post Office door that the site would close at the end of business on June 6, with all services being transferred to the Leverett Post Office. That would have included service for those residents who have Post Office boxes, both inside the building and along the nearby parking lot.
In her message to the community after Markey was in touch with her, Town Administrator Hayley Bolton wrote, “we all deserve a pat on the back.”
“Thanks to our advocating efforts, our Post Office lives another day,” Bolton wrote. “A sincere thank you to everyone who participated in this effort. It was a great showing of what our community can do.”
Bolton said Monday in a phone interview that the Post Office was open for business and signs warning of its imminent closure had been removed.
“A very sincere thank you to all of those who advocated for the Post Office. It’s such an important service,” Bolton said. She also gave kudos to U.S. Congressman Jim McGovern and U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren for their help.
The town’s work began on May 6, when a letter from Matthew Weir, manager of Post Office operations, was posted on the door to the building. That notice said the decision was made to shutter the site because postal officials were unable to renew the lease. The lease had actually expired more than two years earlier, on April 30, 2024.
At Annual Town Meeting, residents were informed of the situation and the opportunity to fill out community impact statements, where they could describe their concerns. The rally on the town common, with people holding signs, was another place to complete the community impact statements, as well as sign a banner to promote keeping the Shutesbury Post Office open.
Jesse Lederman, regional director for Markey, told those gathered that the Post Office committed to renewing discussions on a lease. One resident there spoke optimistically about what this would accomplish, observing that Shutesbury was where Daniel Shays lived prior to leading Shays’ Rebellion in the late 18th century.
The town also formally challenged the closure decision based on several violations of Title 39 of the U.S. Code, such as requiring a minimum of 60 days’ notice before a Post Office may be closed or consolidated, whereas Shutesbury was given only 30 days; that the postal service notice omitted mandatory information about the community’s right to appeal to the Postal Regulatory Commission; and that traveling to the Leverett Post Office does not represent the federally required “effective and regular” service to rural areas for everyone.
Bolton said that small Franklin County towns are now 2-0 in efforts to keep their Post Offices. The Leverett Post Office was briefly on the chopping block in early 2011, but that decision was reversed. At that time, Leverett residents were being told their service would be shifted to Sunderland.
Bolton said the banner signed by community members, along with photographs of the rally, will likely be displayed publicly as a tribute to their hard work.
