[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 137 (Tuesday, September 27, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: September 27, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                 BRIDGEHAMPTON POST OFFICE BICENTENNIAL

                                 ______


                      HON. GEORGE J. HOCHBRUECKNER

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 27, 1994

  Mr. HOCHBRUECKNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 
bicentennial of the Bridgehampton, NY, Post Office.
  On October 1, 1994, the people of eastern Long Island will mark 200 
years of service by the men and women of the Postal Service in 
Bridgehampton. This is truly an historic occasion for the people of 
Bridgehampton and for Bridgehampton Postmaster Louis J. Alfano, Jr.
  The establishment of the Bridgehampton Post Office in 1794 occurred 
amid the founding of this great Republic and the development of our 
system of mail delivery. The Postal System in place at the time 
Bridgehampton's mail service began is largely the same system that has 
been preserved throughout the past two centuries and that serves people 
today. It was planned and supervised by Benjamin Franklin, who in 
addition to his other accomplishments was our Nation's first Postmaster 
General, appointed under the Continental Congress.
  Just 5 years before the opening of Bridgehampton's Post Office, the 
U.S. Constitution was signed and by an act of the First Congress the 
finest system of mail delivery in the world officially became the U.S. 
Postal Service.
  Bridgehampton's Post Office opened its donors on September 25, 1794. 
Its first postmaster, appointed under President George Washington, was 
Hugh Gelston. The other Long Island men and women who have served as 
postmaster of the Bridgehampton Post Office deserve mention. They offer 
a shining example of service for their families, their community and 
the Nation. They are Samuel Rose (1798-1832), James M. Niles (1832-
1835), Robert Halsey (1835-1838), Alanson Topping (1838-1845), Edward 
S. Gray (1850-1853), Nathan N. Tiffany (1853-1856), David Hallock 
(1856-1869, 1869-1886), Benjamin G. Eldridge (1869), James M. Halsey 
(1886-1889), Henry Squires (1889-1896), Orlando Hand (1896-1897), 
Edward A. Hildreth (1897-1915), Maud Rogers (1915-1936), Marjorie E. 
Dickinson (1936-1955), James H. Donohue (1955-1972), Erwin S. Hedges 
(1972-1975), Peter L. Michne (1975-1982), Lawrence Gualtieri (1982-
1983), Robert P. Hill (1983), and Louis J. Alfano, Jr. (1983-present).
  Mr. Speaker, since 1794, the Bridgehampton Post Office has been 
continuously open and available to serve customers. I am proud to 
represent the men and women who serve their community at this facility.

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