Monday, May 23, 2011

Don't sit and wait, keep Daisy post office in news

Nestled behind the trees and up the hill from the hustle and bustle of Hwy. 280 sits what some might call the best kept secret in the state of Georgia, if not, at least in Evans County – the city of Daisy.

The community has a community room, many homes, two churches, a fire station, an old train caboose and a post office. It has a mayor, Inman Brown, Jr., and an active city council. The community may consist of no more than 125 ro 200 people, or so says the census of 2000, but those people prove that size really doesn't matter.

Especially when there is concern about something you care about – like the community's historic post office. Housed in a building owned and maintained by the City of Daisy – Mayor Brown sees to repairs and such – the Daisy Post Office houses the mail boxes of most of the citizens and offers personalized service as Officer in Charge, and Daisy native, Jill Dowd, takes care of her customers – her neighbors and family.

The post office in Daisy has pretty much stayed in the same location since the community – the eldest in Evans County – was settled in 1890 – then it was a part of Tattnall County. It was housed a few doors down from its current location at first.

Most of the current citizens have not known a life without the post office, which has been an integral part of the community. It has served not only as a post office, but also a gathering place as neighbors discuss life, make plans, and even in the last few years for the mayor's dog, Miss Daisy, to hang out around too.

Almost a month ago, the mayor received word that the United States Postal Service, in its efforts to cut back and save money, was conducting feasibility studies across the board in regards to rural community post offices and if it is necessary to have them.

Inman Brown got very concerned when he was asked to find a meeting place for citizens to come and talk to the postal officers in regards to this situation. The local newspaper, The Claxton Enterprise, was contacted as were the area television stations. The Claxton-Evans County Chamber of Commerce got wind of the forum and began sending out notices about the meeting.

Brown was told that the post office was not closing, but the USPS was considering options. Brown's first thoughts were of the recent closings of rural post offices in the state of Georgia and in Alabama. The communities have about shut down.

“I don't want us to lose our identity,” Brown said.

It was a standing-room only forum for the meeting – something that seemed to surprise the USPS postal communications officer, Nancy Ross, who took issue with the headline in The Claxton Enterprise - “It says Daisy post office may have to close, that is misleading.”

After fifteen minutes into the meeting, it was evident from Ross' own presentation that the headline wasn't misleading, for Ross couldn't even say if the post office was going to close or not.

Citizens left the forum feeling quite uncomfortable. There were citizens from all over Evans County at the forum to lend support. Mayor Brown and his wife, Carolyn, on their own, visited residents in Daisy and had them sign a petition in regards to keeping the post office open and they contacted state and national representatives.
Ironically, those representatives informed the Browns that the USPS officials told them that the Daisy post office was only a part of the study, and that there was no affirmation that it would close.

But the Browns still were unsure, and have continued their efforts to keep the post office in Daisy in the limelight, enlisting help from a freelance writer and the community to get the word out and keep the post office in the news.

There is a website at http://daisygeorgia.blogspot.com and also a Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/daisygeorgia1890

The outcry now is, “Don't let the Daisy post office be a victim of the USPS study! Let your voice be heard!” People are encouraged to write letters to the editor, contact the television stations in the area, share their memories and photos about the Daisy post office by emailing daisygeorgia2011@gmail.com.

Let's don't sit around and wait for something to happen.


Thursday, May 12, 2011

Writer A Letter, Save the Post Office.

It has been suggested that all who are interested in keeping the post office open should help keep the situation in the news by writing letters to the editor concerning the issue and your thoughts, not just to The Claxton Enterprise, but the Savannah Morning News and the Statesboro Herald. Letters to the editor to The Claxton Enterprise should be mailed to letters@claxtonenterprise.com and mpeace@claxtonenterprise.com, or they can be dropped off at the offices on Newton Street. All letters must include a telephone number if emailed and signature if dropped off. Email letters to the Savannah Morning News at http://savannahnow.com/content/submit-letter-editor-O.

The fight continues

Daisy community continues fight to save Post Office
By Becky Holland

When Daisy Mayor Inman 'Junior' Brown heard from Nancy Ross, communications specialist for the United States Post Office, that the USPS wanted to hold a forum to find out if having a post office in Daisy was feasible, Brown's heart sank.

In today's times, when the economic downfall has hit even the USPS, Brown's immediate thought was that the post office would close, and "our little community would lost its identity."

But Ross told Brown that the USPS was only conducting a study to see if the historic post office should be closed or not.

The mayor was not going to wait for the results of a study, and soon, through the efforts of Brown, and his wife, Carolyn, the word got out regarding the study, what options might occur after the study, a Facebook page was designed to get the word out, and local television stations and newspapers ran stories.

It was standing room only the day that Ross and other representatives of the USPS came to Daisy to talk to the community. Though Ross presented a program that gave options for postal service in Daisy and said that the office might not have to close, even the USPS veteran could promise that it wouldn't. "We don't know what is going to happen or when." People from Savannah, Statesboro, Glennville, Claxton, Bellville, Hagan, and even Pembroke were in attendance. Senator Jack Hill was on hand to lend support to the community's efforts. WTOC Bureau Chief Dal Cannady was on site, not just to cover the event, but to lend his support as well. The Claxton Enterprise and WSAV-3 were there to cover the event.

With that in mind, Brown and his wife set forth the next steps of writing congressmen, writing USPS, and sending a petition most recently with 90 signatures.

"We don't want it to close," Brown's wife said. She also added that she felt like the more the situation was out in the public's eye, the more chance, hopefully, that it would keep the post office open in Daisy.

To sign petition or help in the fight to keep the Daisy post office alive, go to http://www.facebook.com/#!/DaisyGeorgia1890 or http://daisygeorgia.blogspot.com. Information can be obtained also by calling Mayor Brown at (912) 739-2125.

- Becky Holland is a 17-year newspaper veteran currently pursuing academic endeavors while working on several publishing projects for Demand Media.  Her humorous writings about everyday life can be viewed at http://beckyandbuddy.blogspot.com or she can be reached at itsapoodleslife@gmail.com.

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Post Office History in Daisy

We don't want to lose our post office. We may be a small community - but we are a community, the oldest in Evans County and losing our post office would be like losing our identity.


The Daisy Post Office was established July 31, 1890. Daisy was in Tattnall County then. The formation of Evans County was not until October of 1914.

Post masters included:
Thomas Jefferson Edwards (July 31, 1890 - October 15, 1897)
Thomas Hershel Durrence (October 15, 1897 - February 11, 1903)

George W. Ellarbee (February 11, 1903-October 20, 1914) and (December 13, 1917 - September 18, 1929)
Otto Cowart  (October 20, 1914-December 13, 1917)

  Lewis P. Stirckland served from May 16, 1931 until November 15, 1942.  His widow, 94-year-old Cletus Strickland said Saturday, April 16 that "I want it to stay." She still gets her mail at the post office.

Save the Daisy Post Office

On April 26, 2011, at 4;30 p.m. at the community center in Daisy, officials from the United States Post Office will be presiding over a community hearing as they are deciding to close the Daisy post office.

On April 16, 2011, a group of citizens of all ages, genders and races gathered in front of the post office to express their concerns over the possible closing to Rebecca Holland, Editor of The Claxton Enterprise.

No one wants it closed. An article will appear in the April 20 edition of the Claxton Enterprise.

Help us save our post office.

A bit of Daisy

Like many of the towns that once prospered along the route of the railroads as they carved their way through the piney woods opening lines west from Savannah, Daisy emerged as a prosperous trade center after the railroad came through in 1890. 

Cotton was once ginned in Daisy and shipped by train to factories around the country. So was turpentine, which was stored in barrels manufactured in the town for shipment by rail. 

Much preservation has been done in recent years to make Daisy more appealing to residents and visitors. Original buildings along the main street have been restored, extensive landscaping added, and a red caboose is featured prominently as a part of the scenic town located about two miles east of Claxton.

Daisy's city hall has been preserved since the early 1900s when it once served as the office of Dr. George W. Ellarbee.

DAISY GOVERNING OFFICIALS

Mayor, City of Daisy
• Inman Brown, Jr.
Phone: 912-739-2125

Mayor ProTempore
• Carson Sands, Jr.

Council Members
• Homer Sapp
• Carson Sands, Jr.
• James Scott Roundtree
• Henry Morgan
• Donna M. Driggers

MEETINGS: The regular meetings of the Daisy city council are conducted at 7:00 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of each month. Meetings are held at Daisy Town Hall.

ADMINISTRATION & SERVICES

CITY CLERK
• Carolyn Brown
Phone: 912-739-2125

LAW ENFORCEMENT
• Evans County Sheriff's Dept.
Phone: 912-739-1611

FIRE DEPARTMENT
• Claxton Volunteer Dept.
Phone: 912-739-3111

FOREST FIRE:
• Evans County Forestry Unit
Phone: 912-739-1511

AMBULANCE:
• Emergency Medical Service
Phone: 911

 

The Naming of Daisy

The first order of business was a name for the town. Conley became the name in honor of the Rev. W.F.M. Conley, who was the Methodist minister serving the area at the time.


 This was unacceptable to postal authorities since there was already a Conley, Georgia. The town's name was then changed to Daisy in honor of Mr. Edwards' daughter, Daisy Leola.


 The post office was then established on July 31, 1890.

Daisy, Georgia - The beginning

Daisy, located about three and one-half miles east of Claxton, Georgia,  began as a railroad town. Established in 1890, it was a busy shipping center for naval stores, farm produce and lumber products.

Mr. Caleb Rogers and Mr. Thomas Jefferson Edwards owned all or most of the land that is now Daisy.

Mr. Edwards contracted the right-of-way for the railroad to be built through Daisy. Lots were then surveyed out and sold.