NORTH AUSTIN (KXAN) - If you've ever seen the movie, "Fried Green Tomatoes" the scene is much the same from the porch of the Whistle Stop cafe. You have to put your hands over your ears and shout at the person next to you as the horn of an Amtrak blows zooming by the Austin White Lime Company store . If you're standing inside the general store, you feel the tingles of vibration under your feet. People who visit the store often aren't startled by the amped up train. It's nothing shocking. It's what they expect and it's just another day.
"People like this old building, alot of the older people say it's like stepping back into time," says store operator Bridgette Massey.
Go back almost 130 years; the store and post office were here. There are still signs of its journey through time. A black saloon-looking safe, sections of the walls are missing, a decades old radio, and miniature P.O. boxes. Although wardrobes are completely different than in the 1800's, people still flurry in and out mailing, picking up mail, sending packages and picking up a cold beverage or two.
"Alot of people have been coming here since, you know for a long time, since the 40's and they're still coming here; old couples," says Massey.
Coming here has been habitual for Jim Donahue; 20 years and counting. He's wanting history to be something of the present and not just the past.
"It was a train station. McNeil, Texas was established," says customer Jim Donahue. "It was named after a railroad man who's last name was McNeil and then Austin White Lime has been her for over 125 years contributing and providing, employment and services. The Robinson family owns the building and they have been very supportive of the post office being here and want to see it continue to be here because of the service it provides to this community.”
The United States Postal Service is considering closing the post office. In a released statement, USPS says they believe their resources can be better allocated. The McNeil post office has just 80 P.O. boxes with 50 rented out and there is just one postal worker. The brand new Austin McNeil Station post office opened this past January at 10109 Lake Creek Parkway ; it's less than 10 miles from the smaller post office in the general store.
"People are really upset you know," says Massey. "It's old, they want it preserved. They don't like the new post offices, they don't like to wait in line, the people are mean and here everybody knows you by your first name. "
Regular 13-year customer Marg Robison agrees. Three reasons she keeps coming back.
“One I don’t have to wait in line a long time, two it’s close to my home, and uh, very friendly.”
The small McNeil post office is not owned by USPS and the lease expires on November 30, 2010. After that, USPS ultimately wants to consolidate and move to the newer facility.
Also in their statement, USPS says, 'We will follow the established processes and we will remain sensitive to the concerns of our customers in this community.'
Members of USPS held a public hearing on June 15, 2010 to get public feedback.
"I am very optimistic the postal service will listen to the concerns of the citizens and realize that they have a profitable operation providing good customer service and a good product and they'll chose to keep the post office open," says Jim Donahue.
Many residents signed a petition to keep the post office open. USPS has not made a final decision yet about the fate of the postal facility. Nor have they given a time frame of when they'll make a final decision.
Austin White Lime Company will offer to allow the post office to remain in the McNeil location free of charge, as they want the post office to remain in the community. The company has not communicated this with the USPS representative yet, but plans to make the offer.
Here is a copy of USPS's statement:
U.S. POSTAL SERVICE STATEMENT REGARDING REVIEW OF THE MCNEIL, TX POST OFFICE 78651
"Following an initial study of our operations at the McNeil, TX Post Office, we have determined that it is in the best interest of our customers and the U.S. Postal Service to complete a comprehensive review of our operations here and seriously consider reallocating these resources to provide a more efficient and effective retail and PO Box operation for our customers currently served by this location. Our tentative plans will only lead to a formal proposal if we are satisfied that a maximum degree of regular and effective service can be provided.
"The McNeil Post Office has around 50 PO Boxes rented and is staffed with one Postmaster. Mail delivery for most customers in this area of Travis County is facilitated through Austin's newly completed McNeil Station Post Office, located approximately six miles away, and this office has sufficient capacity to accomodate McNeil Post Office customers. The McNeil Post Office is not a USPS-owned facilty and when the lease expires Nov. 30, 2010, we would like to consoilidate and move operations to
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