Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - June 3, 1981, Winnipeg, Manitoba Winnipeg free press wednesday june pages 25-40 women burst into bodybuilding in a big Rita Hay Worth is no longer Able to care for herself court Tempo a time to remember Post office s Centennial brings town residents together to recall the past by Andy Blicq Winnipeg free press Wellwood from across the District local residents came Here yesterday and gathered in front of a Plain Wood Frame building to celebrate the 100th birthday of their Post office. For Canada Post the party was an Opportunity to peddle free birthday cake and to Foster Goodwill among the local folks from around this quiet Village for about 60 area residents who attended it afforded a reason to Chat with the neighbors and to remember. It was a real Community at one said Herb Graham 81 a longtime resident of Wellwood. I was Secretary of the sunday school. We used to have a record with 150 children on it. 1 Don t think there Are any More than nine now so that gives you an idea of How it about 70 people Inow live in the Village about 170 Kilometres West of Winnipeg. Many of those at the birthday party said their roots in the Community go Back several generations. For most the Post office is linked to important Nast events. V i got letters quite steady from two or three Guys overseas during the second world War said Art Brownell a resident of the District for 40 years. We always waited for the mail to know what Progress was like at the Clara Mckinnon said she still occasionally reads the last letter she received from her brother listed As missing in action during the War. In the letter he told his family about an English girl he wanted to marry. Kept in touch the girl he was going to marry kept in touch with us All these years she s81q. Most people go to the Post office every Day to get their Jessie Whyte said. That s where you hear All the local although the doctor the Butcher and the banker have gone the Titus family has for the last 85 years been postmasters for Wellwood and District. And there were warm congratulations yesterday for John Jack Titus who has served As postmaster for the last 30 years. But the comfortable Cycle of Rural life moves on and Titus although he has made no official announcement quietly said he intends to retire next year he May turn the grocery store and Post office into a rec room he took Over both operations from his father who operated them from 1916 to 1951 inside the Post office an old Box system with combination locks has been abandoned and residents now pick up their mail from a Small office adjoining the one room grocery store which is part of the Titus s Home near the Centre of the store stands a coca cola cooler containing the Strawberry Grapefruit and Cream soda soft drinks you never see advertised on television. People mostly come in the Titus said from the Stool behind the wooden grocery store counter. They pick up their mail and do their shopping you can pretty near Tell when the next person is coming in. I started when i came Home from he said. Dad had it for 35 Vears before me. I be enjoyed he reflected. It s something you know you have to do the Only part i Don t like about it is it ties you Down. I might sell 10 Stamps a Dav but you got to be Here a certain number of anticipates Freedom now with three decades of Public service behind him Titus said he is looking Forward to Freedom from the time restrictions of his postal duties i want to go do More he said. Although most people will be Able to travel to nearby towns for groceries he said the Only ones i m worried about Are the pensioners who Don t have a per bolting District director of Public affairs for the Post office said he has attended Between 40 and 45 Centennial since 1979. Ten other Rural Post offices in Manitoba Are celebrating Centennial this year. I would t say they re melting said. They re still about the Only link farm and town Folk have with the Federal following a Short ceremony in which a congratulatory letter from postmaster general Andre Ouellet was presented to Titus cake Coffee and doughnuts were served across the Street on the grounds of the town Hall. The ceremony was held the Day after the actual 100th anniversary. . Caldwell 96, the guest of Honorat the ceremony reminisced about his term As postmaster from 1911 to 1915. Still Able to Deal out a sturdy handshake Caldwell enjoyed some birthday cake and recalled the Days when local people walked to town or travelled by horse and buggy to get their mail. The mail was brought to the town by train. I did t get wealthy but i got along very Well with the he said. If Titus retires the 78 current Mailbox holders in Wellwood will Likely use a service similar to the one established a Century ago. The Post office will probably operate from a local resident s Home in the the same Way Cyrus Turner began handling mail at his farm near Wellwood on june 1, 1881. Photographs by Ottmar Bierwagen the first party goers arrive at the Wellwood Post office and general store. The postmaster Calls the second floor Home. Wellwood s postmaster John Titus is considering retirement. Resident captures a moment in town s history. More than 200 people turned out for lemonade Coffee and doughnuts. The municipality is dry. J. H. Caldwell 9ft, left and John Titus Cut anniversary cake ;