Wilmont Churchill, 66, of Washburn "hated to give up," but he decided that the time had come and on Dec. 1, [1966] the exact date to the day that he went to work for the U. S. Government as a rural letter 45 years ago, he reluctantly retired.
Before he retired, however, he attended his last meeting of the Rural Letter Carriers' Ass'n. at Orrington in October and had the distinction of being pronounced the oldest letter carrier in Maine.
First class mail went for two cents an ounce when Churchill started out on his mail route the first day of December, 1921. He had been married only a month previously. The new mailman had a 19 mile route in those early days. Snows came earlier than they do now. That year there was a big storm in November during which 10 inches of snow fell, and since the roads were not kept open in winter he used a horse and sleigh through the snowy months and a horse and buggy until the roads became passable for an automobile in the spring. There was plenty of mud to contend with.
The route grew longer, as time went on, and the mail carrier found he had to board another horse halfway along the route. The roads were so rough and the haul so hard that it was too much for one animal alone.
At times, it was even necessary to use a double team to deliver the mail. This was at Christmas time, usually. As the larger mail order houses had no local stores in those days, the parcel post delivery was especially heavy during the pre-holiday period. People just sat down with catalogues and ordered their Christmas presents and the mailman delivered them. Churchill says that there were as many as 25 mail sacks tied to his sleigh sometimes. Be notes that the parcel post in those days was far heavier than it is today, and that with the establishment of the first mail order house store in Presque Isle the delivery by mail dropped off sharply.
It was not until 1938 that the roads were kept plowed during the winter so that Churchill could use an automobile for his deliveries. Even then there were some towns that didn't plow. He drove 30 miles in his car, then turned over mail to another driver with a horse and sleigh for the remainder of the route.
At the time of his retirement, Churchill's mail route had grown to nearly 42 miles. He delivered the mail six days a week and can brag that during 40 years of service, up until the time that he had a slight stroke, he had used only 20 days of sick leave.
But that's not all he did. Along with his mail route he still found time to join the fire department and was a member of that body for 25 years, its chief for 10 of them. Additionally, he served as chief of police in his community for 15 years. Churchill says he found this facet of his life most satisfying, for in his police work he was able to help many people in trouble, especially young people; and it was a great satisfaction to him when he was able to steer some youngster who had gone astray back onto the right track.
Churchill also served many years as deputy sheriff of Aroostook County. In all, he was a law enforcement officer for about 35 years.
"Some things you can't buy with money," says Churchill. "I've had a busy life and a happy one."
He's been a resident of Washburn all of that life, and lived in the same house where he was born until this past summer when he moved into a trailer. His son, Wayne, now occupies the house.
Farming was Churchill's early occupation -- besides being letter carrier, fireman and policeman, that is. He finally sold the farm in 1947.
He and Mrs. Churchill are members of the Baptist Church of the community, Mrs. Churchill having served as organist for over 50 years.
Besides their son, Wayne, the Churchills have three other children. They are Mrs. Phyllis Allen of Washburn, Mrs. Wilma Merrill of Chance Harbor, N. B., and Miss Mavis Churchill, who teaches in Charlestown, N. B. There are eight grandchildren.
The tempo slowed some for Churchill when he had a heart attack last February, but he recovered, and stayed with his mail route until last month. Then he decided it was time for a rest. Churchill says he is enjoying his retirement. He must be, for he has many happy reflections -- the consequence of a busy and well spent life.