MICHELE NORRIS, Host:
Today, the U.S. Postal Service released a list of more than 3,000 post offices it's considering closing. They're in almost every state - from Supai, Arizona; to Grassy Creek, North Carolina; to Grand Rapids, Michigan. Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe said the move was brought on by changing customer needs.
PATRICK DONAHOE: As the volume continues to drop off, and especially profitable volume like first-class mail, we have to do things differently.
NORRIS: Welcome to the program.
DONAHOE: Hello.
NORRIS: Now, we called on you because you actually live in an old post office building there in Paintsville. Tell us about how the post office wound up becoming your home. Was this a post office that you used to visit a lot?
BELHASEN: And I was driving down the street, and there was a for-sale sign out in front of my post office. So I had to - I couldn't resist - I had to call the number and inquire.
NORRIS: Now, we should say that your post office-turned-residence was featured in the magazine "This Old House" a few years ago. And I've had a chance to look at the pictures, and all I can say is: Wow.
BELHASEN: Oh, thank you.
(SOUNDBITE OF LAUGHTER)
NORRIS: Tell us about some of the discoveries that you made when you started the renovation.
BELHASEN: Another interesting thing was a postcard; it was from the late 1950s. And it was actually a card that you could fill out and notify your family members where you were after a nuclear blast. That was kind of during the period when we were in the Cold War, and it was a means for people to let other people know they were safe after a nuclear bomb had been dropped.
NORRIS: Did you find any wanted posters?
BELHASEN: We did have some wanted posters, yes. And I actually have John Dillinger's wanted poster.
NORRIS: My goodness.
BELHASEN: And some farsighted postmaster decided to keep that, I'd say. But it ended up with me.
(SOUNDBITE OF LAUGHTER)
NORRIS: This post office is - it's in a coal-mining town, right?
BELHASEN: Yes. Yes.
NORRIS: And it's right there on the main strip. So this would've been the center of activity.
BELHASEN: I mean, it's kind of something out of - taken out of time because, you know, this building was built in our town at a time when most people didn't have running water. And then to see this marble and the terra-cotta tile, and it just all - you know, it's kind of amazing, when you think about it.
NORRIS: It must've been a real point of pride for the people of Paintsville.
BELHASEN: I'm sure. Yes. Yes, I'm sure it was.
NORRIS: Well, thank you very much, Dr. Belhasen. It's been great talking to you. Thank you very much for your time
BELHASEN: You're very welcome.
NORRIS: That's Sarah Belhasen. She's a family physician and collector of Americana. She spoke to us from her office in Paintsville, Kentucky.
ROBERT SIEGEL, Host:
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