MIDDLETOWN, CT — The U.S. Postal Service invites members of the media and the local community to a mini-celebration at the Middletown Post Office in recognition of its place in American history.

The event is part of the Postal Service’s celebration of America’s 250th anniversary. The Middletown Post Office is one of the original 62 Post Offices that has remained open and serving customers since 1775.

This informal community event will give customers an opportunity to meet local postal employees, learn more about the Post Office’s historic role in the community and celebrate the Postal Service’s continuing mission to connect people and businesses across the country.

Highlights of the free event include a stamp ceremony featuring the Benjamin Franklin Forever stamp, a kid’s community art show, historical educational games, trivia and a birthday cake for America.

What:

Community celebration and customer meet-and-greet honoring the Middletown Post Office.

Who:

Postmaster Jeanviele Coleman, Connecticut Postal Customer Council Administrator and Treasurer Matthew Scalesse, postal employees, customers and community members.

When:

July 2, 2026
10 a.m.

Where:

Middletown Post Office
11 Silver Street
Middletown, CT 06457

Visuals and Interview Opportunities:

Media will have opportunities to capture customer interactions, local postal employees, discuss the history of postal operations in the American Revolutionary era, obtain interviews with Postal Service representatives about the office’s connection to America’s 250th anniversary.

Background:

As part of its collaboration with America 250, the Postal Service is recognizing historic Post Offices that have served their communities since the earliest days of the nation. The Middletown Post Office is among the original 62 Post Offices that have remained open since 1775 and continues to serve as a trusted place where customers connect with the Postal Service every day.

The history of the Middletown Post Office closely mirrors the growth of the city itself, from a small river town in the 1700s to one of Connecticut’s most important commercial centers.

Middletown’s first postmaster

The U.S. Postal Service traces its origin to July 26, 1775, when the Continental Congress named Benjamin Franklin the first American Postmaster General.

Wensley Hobby is listed as the first postmaster of Middletown Connecticut and one of the earliest people responsible for bringing an organized postal system to central Connecticut during the American Revolution. He was appointed by the Connecticut General Assembly under Goddard's Constitutional Post on May 7, 1775 and the first Post Office in Middletown was established.

Although relatively little survives regarding his personal life compared to more famous revolutionary figures, Hobby’s role was historically significant because he helped establish reliable communications at a time when the colonies were fighting for independence.

“I am thrilled to be the postmaster of Middletown, CT, and to be honoring such a rich postal legacy,” said Middletown Postmaster Jeanviele Coleman.

Out of the 59 different postmasters who have been appointed to the Middletown Post Office since 1775, only three are women. Coleman is a part of a long legacy that is older than the country itself.

“We are thrilled to be sharing local history with you at our upcoming event. We have games for kids, trivia, local art and of course, refreshments for all, including a birthday cake for America,” said Coleman

The earliest post office

Early post offices were typically located inside general stores or taverns, where the postmaster also operated another business. As the town grew, the post office became an essential link connecting merchants, ship captains, and residents with the rest of the young nation.

By the early 1900s, Middletown had outgrown its earlier postal facilities. In 1911, the federal government authorized construction of a new post office, selecting a prominent downtown location at the corner of Main and Court Streets. The building was completed in 1916.

A downtown landmark

For more than 60 years, the building served as Middletown’s principal post office and became one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks. It occupied a central location in the commercial district, reflecting the importance of mail to local businesses and residents. Postal operations moved to a newer facility in 1977.

National Register of Historic Places

The Old Middletown Post Office was added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 12, 1982. It contributes to the historic character of Middletown and remains one of Connecticut’s finest surviving early 20th-century federal post offices.

For more information or to RSVP, contact Amy Gibbs at amy.n.gibbs@usps.gov.

# # #