One of two Floral displays on the grounds of Coulee Dam Post Office.

Introducing Branch 4498 Coulee Dam

I arrived in Coulee Dam about 2:00 PM. I drove into town looking for the Post Office or a store to ask for directions. Finding the store first, the clerk pointed at the Post Office that was about a half block down the street. I thought, "Well that was easy." I parked across the street, took some pictures of the building, and walked in towards the window clerk. I asked, "Is the Postmaster in?" She said, "That would be me." I asked if she had received my letter, and she said she had not. Then I asked her when the carriers were getting off the street. She explained that all carriers were rural carriers. Perplexed, I asked if there were any NALC members there. She said, "Oh, you must want the Coulee Dam Post Office, this is the Grand Coulee Dam Post Office." She told me to go 3 more miles down the road to Coulee Dam.

Soon, I was entering the nice little community of Coulee Dam. Finally, I found a building with a sign saying "Post Office". It was a cute little building, obviously built quite some time ago. I took some more pictures, then went inside the building. Inside, it didn't look like a Post Office, and I guess the best reason I can come up with is, that it wasn't. I was in the School District office; the School District had bought the antique building several years ago. I talked with the secretary for a while about the history of the building. Then, she politely directed me on my way to the real Post Office, which lies down the road beyond a narrow bridge.

Finally, the third time being the charm, I was there at Coulee Dam Post Office. For the third time, I took some pictures of a Post Office in the Grand Coulee Dam Area, as that is what the whole region is referred to. The Coulee Dam Post Office is a much newer building, nicely landscaped out front. The Postmaster does a great job maintaining the grounds and landscaping.

So, I walked in with my camera, and asked the window clerk if the Postmaster was in. Again, the clerk answered, "I'm the Postmaster." You would think I would start to get a clue about Postmasters working the window by now. The Postmaster's name was Bob Bowman. I asked if he had received my letter. He did, and I went on to explain that I wanted to build a web page of my travels and get as many Postal employees' pictures as I could, including his, if he didn't mind. He posed for a few shots, then told me where I could find the carrier on the street and added that at 3:00 PM, another employee was coming into work the window. I expressed my interest in getting her picture, and said I would be back.

Soon, I found Coulee Dam's only regular carrier and President of Branch 4498, Diane Crum. She was right where the Postmaster had directed me. Diane was a delightful lady to visit with. She had just loaded up for a relay and stood there with a big bundle in her arms and two full mail bags, one on each shoulder, so I did not want to keep her long. "My gosh!" I exclaimed, "Are all of your relays this big that you need two bags?" "Well no", she said, "It just helps my back." In Coulee Dam there is only one park and loop route of 585 stops, and many times it is over 9 hours. We finished our visit and she was off on her merry way.

I returned to the Post Office for the other clerk's picture. I arrived just a little before three, and the Postmaster and I visited for a while. We talked about the size of the route, the outside of the building, and DPS. Soon the other employee arrived; Her name was Paula Shordas, and she had just transferred to the clerk craft from the carrier craft. I got her picture, and few more with the Postmaster and her out in front of the Post Office. The office had just hired a new PTF to replace Paula, and she was in driving training the day I arrived. I thank them both for their time and headed for home some 3 or 4 hours away in Lewiston, Idaho.

Entering Grand Coulee Dam Area

Grand Coulee Dam Post Office

The Old Post Office in Coulee Dam

The current Post Office in Coulee Dam

Postmaster: Bob Bowman

Regular Carrier: Diane Crum

Clerk: Paula Shordas

Clerk Paula Shordas and Postmaster Bob Bowman in front of Coulee Dam Post Office

PTF: Jennifer Payne