Alamo Post Office
On my visit to the post office today, George (the postmaster?, i.e. manager) and I had a quick chat on the history of the Alamo post office, which apparently is the oldest in the San Ramon Valley and began in 1852. The mail carrier, would begin his route from Martinez, through Alamo, to Mission San Jose on horse and cart, twice a week to deliver mail. What's cool is that the post office was always an important community gathering place. According to longtime Postmistress Bertha Linhares, when the mail was expected the men,"…sat in the post office-store in the winter … the women went into our sitting room and visited with my mother … We always heard all the news and troubles of the Alamo residents." Okay, something to think about the next time I'm in the dreadful line....perhaps strike up a conversation and who knows what.
