KEYSER, W.Va. — Charles Laffey of Rawlings has retired after 34 years with the U.S. Postal Service, 19 years of which were spent in Keyser as postmaster.
Laffey started as a clerk in Frostburg and was then moved to a postmaster position in Barton and Lonaconing.
“I have always said that I am appreciative and grateful to have a job in the postal service. I consider it a honor to have been the postmaster of the town in which I was born,” said Laffey.
Laffey’s last day with the company was Friday. He said he has some fond memories of the dedicated employees at the Keyser post office.
Laffey recalled a time a few months ago when the power was out in downtown Keyser and about 16 employees showed up before daylight and had to sort the mail utilizing flashlights and smart phones.
“The power came on later on in the day and we weren’t that late getting the mail out. The employees realized what they had to do to get the mail out. They stepped up to bat and got it done,’ said Laffey.
“The employess would show up no matter what, even if it was snowing. In the 19 years I worked as postmaster, there were very few years we didn’t deliver and that was because the mail wasn’t at the distribution center.”
Another fond memory of Laffey’s was when a handicapped accessible ramp for the post office was finally installed.
The entire project took about 15 years because of funding and certain specifications that had to be met.
“I’m thankful that we completed the project. Residents were very appreciative of the handicapped accessible ramp,” said Laffey.
In honor of Laffey’s retirement, post office employees threw Laffey a party complete with food and gifts.
“It was very thoughtful of the employees to do that,” said Laffey.
Working in the postal service business is something that Laffey has always thought about doing and it is something that his family has been a part of, as well.
“I come from a postal family and I am proud of that,” said Laffey, noting that his mother worked in a post office in the 1940s in Westernport, his late father was a postmaster, his daughter is a carrier, his one brother retired as a postmaster and his other brother still works as a postmaster.
Now that Laffey is retired, he plans on spending time with his family, playing golf, fly fishing, attending his kids’ ball games and in the future he plans on looking into outside business interests.
“Right now I just want to take a step back and relax,” said Laffey.
The Postal Service has changed drastically between now and when Laffey started in the late 70s.
“The biggest change is the increase of automatic process of mail sorting. When I first started you had to sort the letters and flats (magazines) by hand,” said Laffey.
“Now, about 90 percent of the mail is already sorted, by a delivery bar code sorter and is ready to deliver on your route that day. It’s highly efficient and helps keep costs down.”
Other changes that the post office has seen include switching from a reliance on tax dollars to make ends meet to relying on revenue from postage and a decrease in the number of letters, because of email, said Laffey.
“The parcel volume is increasing even though the letter volume nation wide is going down. People love to shop online and in catalogs. People still love to have them delivered to their door,” said Laffey.
One thing that hasn’t changed is the mission of the post office to provide the means to deliver communications.
“I feel we still do a wonderful job,” said Laffey.
Contact Elaine Blaisdell at eblaisdell@times-news.com.
Local News
Related Photos
-
Charles Laffey sits at his desk at the Keyser post office Thursday. After 34 years of service, Laffey’s last day as postmaster was Friday. Ed DeWitt
Keyser postmaster retires after 34 years of service
- Local News
-
-
Eight siblings served during World War II
An inspection of the Bridges of Bedford County shows that eight of the 12 siblings served their country with military service either during or shortly after World War II.
-
Giving back
Allegany High School students Casey Kidd, left, and Victoria Bohrer sweep gravestones and place flags at Rocky Gap Veterans Cemetery on Friday. Kidd and Bohrer were part of a larger effort by their ninth-grade government class, who honored veterans by cleaning the site.
-
Almost half of new vets seek disability
As the nation commemorates the more than 6,400 troops who died in post-9/11 wars, the problems of those who survived also draw attention.
-
Millions in aid for Iraq goes unspent
Outside the crumbling elementary school, goats feed on trash strewn across the front yard. Inside, the ceiling is rotting, toilets don’t work and students scrunch hip-to-hip behind narrow desks.
-
For the fallen, for those who served, for those serving: Thank you
In observance of Memorial Day, the local Ali Ghan Shrine Club held a service at the club grounds on Saturday, honoring those who paid the ultimate price in defense of our freedom and giving thanks to those who served and are serving in the military.
-
Celebrating 100 years
Bertha V. Burkett celebrated her 100th birthday with family at the Frostburg Nursing Center on Saturday.
-
No trial date set in man’s murder case
A trial date in the capital murder case of a Maryland man charged in the slaying of his ex-wife’s boyfriend could not be set Wednesday because defense attorneys are awaiting reports from experts.
-
Pet oxygen masks donated to Oakland VFD
Resident Michael McGuire recently donated two pet oxygen mask kits to the Oakland Volunteer Fire Department.
-
PlanMaryland workshops set in region
People who are interested in PlanMaryland are invited to two workshops to discuss incorporating the economic development interests of Western Maryland into the first state development plan.
-
UNDEFEATED STATE CHAMPS!
Mountain Ridge softball head coach Martha Mauzy and players react after the Miners’ 4-3 win over Mardela in the Maryland 1A state championship game at the University of Maryland on Saturday.
- More Local News Headlines
-
