POST
OFFICE AT PFEIFFER'S GENERAL STORE
Photo from Queensborough Public Library
2nd Postmaster- Family In Old
Stamping Ground
New York Daily News
April 30, 1961
The Middle Island Post Office, which in 1901 set a record
because the Hutchinson family had operated it for 90
years, is on its way towards another such mark. Except
for 27 months in the 1940s, the post office is currently
observing its 60th anniversary in the Pfeiffer family.
The present postmaster is Mrs. Grace
Pfeiffer widow of Everett H. Pfeiffer, who succeeded his
later father, Edward, on the latter's retirement in 1940.
A veteran of nearly 20 years' experience
in postal routine, Mrs. Pfeiffer unofficially assisted
her husband for several years before she became the
office's first clerk in 1948. She handled the entire work
during the two years her husband spent in World War 2
overseas service.
Established in 1796
The post office, one of Suffolk's oldest, was established
in 1796. In its 165 years, it has had as many names as it
has had postmaster-families.
Originally, with Appolus Wetmore as
postmaster, it was known as Middletown. Shortly after
1800, it became Brookhaven, and in 1820, it was renamed
Middle Island.
Besides its family background, the office
has other historical significance. For nearly all of the
past six decades, it has been situated in a building
which, up to 1957, served as a crossroads general store
for 150 years. The original portion of the structure, on
Route 25 at Middle Island Rocky Point Road, is 225 years
old.
Mentioned in 1744
In its earlier years, the building, then owned by the
Brewster family, also housed a tavern that was stagecoach
stop, which is mentioned in Alexander Hamilton's memoirs
of his Long Island trip.
Mrs. Pfeiffer has carefully preserved
many historical papers relating to the structure and the
post office. One, a faded record of its postal activities
for the final quarter of 1807, shows that five pieces of
outgoing mail were handled in October 12 in November and
seven in December.
Retyped by: Diana Hadizadeh
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