Historic post office building up for sale

NEW LONDON, Conn. (WTNH) -- For some residents in New London, it is more than just a place to send snail mail. The historic U.S. Postal Service building is up for sale and for some residents, having to go some place else to send and receive mail, would not be the same.

"Over here this is my box," said Harold Arkana, "I just emptied it."

Arkana has had two boxes at the New London post office for 71 years. So he took special notice when a public notice went up announcing the historic building is for sale.

"They're very optimistic they can find a buyer for this white elephant," Arkana said.

White elephant because the 45,000 square foot building, which was built in the 30's, is in need of repairs. The top two floors are vacant. Still many have come to depend on the post office's downtown location.

"To think about having this thing relocated elsewhere is preposterous," said Arkana.

The postal service has said in the past, even if mail carriers are moved to Waterford customer service would stay in downtown New London and the murals, which line the lobby will be preserved there or elsewhere.

"That's Franklin Roosevelt put some of the artists to work. They're priceless," Arkana said.

There are a lot of pink notices in the boxes. That means those are boxes which are for rent. So not only is the building itself more than the post office needs right now, but it also has more boxes than it needs. There was a time though that you had to wait in line to get one of them.

Destina Wilbourn remembers those days

"I'm very comfortable with this building," said Wilbourn. "If it was to move I'd be mad."

"It would be a loss of a service," said Michael Hasse, "so you'd have to see what they replace it with."

Selling the building could help the cash-strapped postal service downsize, but folks don't want to see service suffer.