MUSINGS OF A LOCAL By Iris Mead - SITTING ON THE PORCH WATCHING THE WORLD GO BY

Christine Eves, New Kingston Post Office Clerk

June Faulkner on the porch of the building that has been in her family since 1950.

The original postal boxes in the New Kingston Post Office.

NEW KINGSTON — Every Saturday as I drove through the Hamlet of New Kingston on my way to Bovina, I would see two people (maybe three sometimes) sitting on the porch of the large building in the middle of the Hamlet that houses the US Post Office. And it would make me smile. I was determined that one day I would stop and talk with them (and that it also would make a Musings column). And so, it has.

On this past Saturday, there they were enjoying the autumn weather and taking in the changing of the leaves in the beautiful New Kingston Valley. Recognizing June Faulkner and introduced to Christine Eves, the clerk at the post office, I told them how I saw them every Saturday as I drove by and that I was determined to one day stop and find out their story.

Christine (Chrissy) has been the clerk at this post office for four years and knows every one of her 155 postal patrons and their box numbers. She loves to chit-chat with them as they come in for their mail, and new residents are made to feel at home once they meet her. The many Hollows (“Hollers”) that branch out from New Kingston are part of her postal area. Chrissy moved to New Kingston 10 years ago after visiting for many years as her parents owned property nearby.

While I was talking with them, a contract mail carrier, Terra Balcom, arrived with the daily mail for distribution to the boxholders. She covers the rural route mailboxes on her way from the Margaretville post office ending up at the New Kingston post office with their mail.

Let’s not forget June, whose roots go way back in the history of New Kingston. Her father, Doug Faulkner, purchased the building in 1950 and opened a general store where he carried the standard line of merchandise plus feed and grain for the surrounding farmers. It eventually became the post office with her father as the postmaster. When Doug retired, her mother, Fran, took over the position for many years. As the photos show, the building is large, the largest one in the Hamlet. In addition to the post office, Doug and Fran had an antique business in the building. They were great collectors of antiques from many places. Part of their stoneware collection was donated to the Farmers Museum in Cooperstown and is frequently on display there and in other places in the area. After moving away for 30 years, June returned to New Kingston four years ago and now lives in the building that has belonged to her family for many years.

Walking inside the part of the building that houses the post office, you notice a lot of books lining the shelves. This is also a lending library for the community. The books are taken and returned with no charge. June and Chrissy also act as the unofficial Welcome Wagon, the local newspaper, they provide directions, they answer questions for out-of-towner, and are all-around collectors of the day-to-day activities of the hamlet. Their biggest complaint, while watching the world go by, is the lack of attention by drivers to the speed limit signs posted at each end of the hamlet. Speeding cars and trucks seem to be the biggest problem in this sleepy hamlet of approximately 16 houses.

June and Chrissy continue their enjoyment of front-porch-sitting from spring to fall when the weather makes it comfortable to do so.

The leaves are changing fast so take that ride and enjoy the colors before they disappear or like June and Chrissy, sit on your porch and watch the world go by when time allows.