(A. V. and p. o. on the Greenbrier R., Lewisburg D., Greenbrier Co. GGWVa 1904, p.33. DIUSGS 1912. DDA 1933)

Mr. W.E. Holliday, the Postmaster, in a letter dated 1936, writes that until about 1875 the p. o. name was Greenbrier Bridge, owing to a double covered bridge over the Greenbrier R. here.

Caldwell, he adds, is for Mr. James R. Caldwell, the citizen who then owned most of the land.  

Ray and Rosaline Shafer have shared a good part of their lives with each other- and with the post office. The two have worked in the same government agency since 1957, when Mr. Shafer was appointed acting postmaster at the Caldwell Post Office. The same year Mr. Shafer hired his wife as clerk, a time when hiring family member was allowed, they both retired last week.

When the Shafer’s Started working together, first0class letters could be mailed for three cents per ounce. Post cards a penny.

Post office work has seen the couple through 32 years, four daughters, and three grandsons. They were married in Clifton Forge in 1954 and have lived in the Caldwell area since then. Mrs. Shafer is a native of Alderson; Mr. Shafer is a native of Caldwell. For 28 years the two worked together at the post office. Mrs. Shafer would take over her husbands’ duties when he was on vacation. “Because of that, we never had our vacations together,” Mr. Shafer says.

“We want to travel and spend time with our grandchildren now” His wife says. “The girls are tickled we’re retiring. They’re planning for us to be with them a lot now”.

Mr. Shafer lists the flood of 1985 as one of the most memorable events in his 32-year-tnure. ‘We had four feet of water in here, but it stopped out work for only about a half-day, he says. We were back in operation distributing mail the next morning.

Mrs. Chafer adds, “I wish we had kept a book on everything that happened all these years. A lot of things have happened. Many of the children who used to come in here so often are now grown-up ad bring their own children in.”

The Shafers are quick to say what they have enjoyed most about their job, interaction with the people of the community.

“There are some awfully nice people here”, Mrs. Shafer remarks. “And there have been lots of folks to come in and tell about their problems---folks who don’t have anyone to talk to. It makes me feel good to be able to listen to them.”

Mrs. Shafer worked her first 28 years in the postal service at Caldwell, eventually working occasionally at the Lewisburg and White Sulphur Springs post offices. Her past four-and-a-half years have been spent mostly at White Sulphur Springs.

According to Mr. Shafer, the Caldwell Post Office was established as the Greenbrier Bridge Post Office April 7, 1871. The Name was changed to Caldwell December 13, 1881, he says. The post office service approximately 100 general delivery’s, 175 highway contract customers, and 23 rural route customers. Carolyn Humphreys will assume the duties of postmaster for approximately three months while a decision is being made on a new appointment to the post.

“I’ve enjoyed working for the best postal service in the world­­­--- and the best people in the world,” Mr. Shafe Says.