Ghost Post Office

 

Damascus, Colorado

 

Damascus, Colorado, was a small Post Office, operated out of a home at the turn of this past century.  The home site was located on the banks of Rush Creek in far south eastern Lincoln County. 

 

Out there in the ranchers pasture, among the trees a few structures can be seen.  Nearby is another ranch house and some barns and out buildings.  According to the old map, a wagon road went through the area, near Damascus.  It is a land of open spaces, Population density is maybe one person per 5 square miles. 

 

It appears the wagon road to Hugo, a railroad town during the 1899’s and 1900’s.  From Hugo, the mail and express was delivered to the ranchers in the area and maybe trading posts.  From Hugo, about 60 miles away, the drayage service would have delivered them mail to Damascus and other PO’s along the route. 

 

When I journeyed looking for Damascus, I had no expectations of what I would find and not much did I find.  I turned south from Boyero, making small dust cloud as I bounced along the dirt road.  About 4very miles or so I would pass a ranch house, otherwise it was open country.  Here an untouched land, much like when the buffalo roamed the prairie.  The only changes were the roads and fences.  The buffalo had been replaced by cattle to graze the grasses. 

 

There were scores of different birds, falcons, eagles, hawks, larks and you name em.  The occasional antelope could be seen on the ridges, watching the intruder, deer cautiously watcher the passer by, ground squirrels scurried off the road and coyote sauntered along the ditch.  Here was a land with few changes, so I settled in for the journey. 

 

Soon I was at my destination, well almost.  The road curved at the fence and beyond the fence went the ruts.  Over there in the trees was Damascus Post Office.  I followed the road around the curve and across Rush Creek.  There was a small trickle of water in the creek, some deer were lounging in the cool grasses on the banks.

 

I paused and did a 360 look about, There was a ranch house over there and some cattle were grazing over there and the breeze tickled the air.  It was day of time of wonderment.  The destination was at hand, the journey was the time spent thinking about past travelers. 

 

Damascus, Colorado, how came to be named that is still a mystery.

Country Post Office

 

The small town post office is a bit different then the big city.  I don’t get home mail delivery, I have to go in and open my little PO box and look in.  People out in the country get mail delivery,RFD,

Wonder how much the post office could save if they stopped home delivery in the cities.  Set up mail kiosks in the neighborhoods for people to pick up their mail.  They would save a lots on vehicles, some of the letter carries are hell on wheels.

It is such a contrast between the cities and the towns.  The city slickers whine n cry, most of the country folks go about their business.

This little town Post Office is kind of unique because of the old building it is in.  Lots of the small towns got cookie cutter block buildings a number of years ago and the old post office building disappeared. 

Some of the wide spot villages have a pre-fab cubicle.  Maybe have 10-30 customers. 

In these little buildings, the local gossip is exchanged, how are the crops, how is the kids, or how was the trip.  They are kind of a social point.

Wonder how much longer they will last.  UPS, Fedx and the computer are replacing the mail box.  I still like to get my bills by mail and pay by mail but that is slowly changing. 

My bank was hacked a number of years ago so I am kind of leery of electronic banking.  I also like the jaunt to the post office.  Although I have gotten to know the UPS driver and we say hi when we meet. 

The paradigm of humanity keeps shifting.

ReLiving The Past

 

One of my pleasures is taking the time on occasion to visit the museums in the small towns.  Most are closed through the winter.  So when I do find open for a snow day I take advantage of it.

I like to look at things and imagine what it would have been like in years past.  What would it be like to use that machine, cook with those pots n kettles or ride in that buggy.

This mail cart caught my attention.  Look at how it down between the wheels and look at the suspension and springs.  I could see the letter wagon trotting down the rod, the driver letting the horse amble while reading the latest in pulp fiction. 

At the mailbox the horse pauses, the letters are removed from the box and new letters are placed inside.  A clicking of the tongue and the horse begins trotting down the road again. 

Down the road at the next house some children are out front playing when they see the horse and its cart.  Out to the road they  run to say hi at the mailman.  Out of the back a catalogue is retrieved, with joy the children jump up and down.  The wish book has arrived.  Inside are the latest toys, clothes and other dreamy things to look at.

The children run to the house, a clicking of the tongue and down the road to the next mailbox they trot. 

What a difference in the pace of time and choices of what is fun.   How many today know the name of their mailman, say hi to them, pass the time of day?

I don’t get home delivery, I have to go into the Post Office and open my mailbox.  Sometimes Linda or Kay are in the lobby and a quick hi or pleasantries are exchanged.