Deer Harbor Community Saves Local Post Office

The Deer Harbor Post Office building now belongs to the community

In a blitzkrieg effort, the Deer Harbor community has rallied to the cause to purchase the Deer Harbor Post Office building in order to renew its lease with the US Postal Service.

Erik Smith, owner of Cayou Quay Marina and a member of the Deer Harbor Community Club and the “Save the Deer Harbor Post Office” committee, announced that on Wednesday, July 8, the final sale documents with Wyndham Resort will be signed and ownership of the Post Office building will be transferred to the Deer Harbor community.

Smith, who is treasurer of the Community Club and the Save the Post Office committee, said that renewing the lease is a complex, multi-step process that has to start six months in advance of the expiring lease.

The local community club, as a non-profit, could not lobby the government to renew the post office lease, which expires in February 2010. So three board members, including Deer Harbor Community Club President Howard Barbor, joined with five other local community members to form the “Save the Deer Harbor Post Office” committee last November.

After five months’ negotiation, the committee talked the Post Office into not closing its office, and began looking for other buildings to house the postal service in Deer Harbor. They came up with four other places, but none met the Post Office’s requirements, so the committee decided to make an offer to purchase the existing building, owned by Wyndham Resorts, in order to lease it to the government for another 10 years.

On June 1, the fundraising efforts began, and in 17 days, the $250,000 purchase price was raised, said Smith. “A whole bunch of people stepped forward – it was really stunning how fast the entire community came together.” The purchase price has been paid entirely by community funds and loans, with no bank loans involved, said Smith.

“The ones that really stuck their necks out were the Deer Harbor Community Club and the Save the Deer Harbor Post Office Committee. We agreed that there was no other obvious group of people to take it on,” said Smith.

The entire Deer Harbor Community contributed, including absentee owners and residents of Waldron, Crane and Coon Islands. Membership in the community club costs $20 per year, and there are about 100 members. The “Save the Post Office” committee had contributions from 120 individuals, said Smith “It was very broad-based support.”

The Post Office lease will cover costs of maintaining the building, and the purchase fund will cover costs already incurred. The Deer Harbor Post Office was originally established, in 1893, in the wood frame building across the street from its present location. The wood-sided brick building that now houses the Post Office is about 18 years old, Smith said.

“I like to fight for things rather than against them,” said Smith. “We’re very grateful to the whole community who came through on what many thought was a lost cause. It’s pretty exciting to negotiate with the government and win.”

The community is still seeking and receiving donations to pay down the loan, and contributions can be sent to the “Save the Deer Harbor Post Office” committee at PO Box 57 Deer Harbor WA 98243.