A representative from the U.S. Postal Service came to Evinston on Thursday evening to hear residents' concerns about the potential closing of Wood and Swink Old Store's post office.
Carolyn Kirce, who represents north central Florida to the Postal Service, told residents that the post office is under consideration to be closed because of low workload, not necessarily because of cost.
It takes a postal worker at Wood and Swink only two hours a day, on average, to perform his or her duties, which is not an effective return, she said.
One main concern presented by the 70 people who attended the meeting at Evinston United Methodist Church was the historical status of the post office, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.
Another concern was the increased cost Evinston residents will endure if they are forced to pay for rural delivery or drive to Micanopy to pick up mail.
One man who spoke up at the meeting said he would have to travel 1,000 extra miles a year driving to and from Micanopy's post office.
Residents stressed to Kirce that Wood and Swink is central to the cultural and historical identity of Evinston.
"There is no other facility in the state of Florida, from Pensacola to Key West, that is comparable to this," said Bill Bowe, of Gainesville. "This doesn't even belong to Evinston, it belongs to the entire state of Florida. The price is just too great not to maintain."
The voices of those who expressed their concerns were recorded in a file that will be taken to the Postal Service's headquarters for consideration.
Kirce said residents' comments will be taken into account during the Postal Service's review of post offices slated for closure.
No date was given at the meeting for when the Postal Service will make a decision about closing the post office.
Former owner Freddie Wood Jr. was adamant that closing a post office that serves about 85 people isn't a cost-effective choice for the postal service.
"I can't see why this is costing the government so much," he said.
U.S. Postal Service representative Carolyn Kirce spoke to about 70 Evinston residents Thursday evening about the potential closure of Wood and Swink Old Store's post office. Residents expressed their concerns about closing the historic landmark.
