The rural post office celebrated its 100th year in operation during a ceremony and potluck dinner on Saturday attended by 50 community members. It is the oldest post office still operating in the same building in Colorado.
Surrounded by farms, archaeological sites and Kinder Morgan CO2 operations, the Yellow Jacket post office is still the social epicenter for business and local gossip, said retired postmaster Lolita Aulston. She started working at the store in 1968, then was the postmaster from 1982 to 1992.
“A lot is the same but a lot has changed too,” she said. “The general store closed, but the post office lives on.”
In 1915, it started out as a log cabin with a flat roof, then in 1918 it was moved to its current location. The building was modernized over time, but Aulston always kept the potbelly coal stove burning during her reign.
“Farmers would get their mail and warm up around the fire discussing business and family life,” she said. “New farmers come in to meet everybody and find out information.”
Shell CO2 workers stopped in daily for sandwiches back in the day, and archaeologists from the nearby Yellow Jacket dig site would bring in their finds to show off.
“The artifacts were fascinating, entire pots and different pottery, even a skull or two,” she said.
The number of post office boxes, about 50, really hasn’t changed over the years. After she retired, the computers came in and a propane heater replaced the old stove.
“They tried to close it down but I wouldn’t let them,” Aulston said. “I really miss it and liked all the people. I retired so that me and my husband, a POW from the Battle of the Bulge, could travel to all of the WWII reunions across the country.”
A postage stamp of the Yellow Jacket post office was made to commemorate the 100-year birthday. May there be many more.