Wingate Postmaster Jennifred Jones poses next to her decorations Thursday to celebrate 50 years since the opening of the "new" post office in 1970. To honor the milestone, Jones and others at the post office handed out cupcakes and decorated the interior with flowers, pottery, Indian corn and letters of appreciation, much of which was donated by those who frequent the building. It's the people of Wingate and the small town atmosphere that have made the post office a central hub for the community, Jones said.
Nick Wilson/Journal Review
Jennifred Jones sits surrounded by donated decorations in her office at the Wingate Post Office Thursday.
Nick Wilson/Journal Review
Wingate resident Mindy Nichols and her seven-month-old daughter Madison visit the Wingate Post Office Thursday. Members of the Nichols family and many others make routine stops at the post office, sometimes simply to see Postmaster Jennifred Jones and others in the community.
Nick Wilson/Journal Review
A 1970 plaque dedicating the Wingate Post Office to the community still hangs in its original location. The town's first post office was erected in 1833 as "Pleasant Hill" and remained so until 1882 when it was changed to Wingate; the name was briefly changed to "Whitlock" from 1884-1889 when it was switched back to Wingate.
Nick Wilson/Journal Review
The door leading to the office area at the Wingate Post Office is adorned with signatures, stories, notes of appreciation and a newspaper clipping from April 1979 depicting the location's history.