1st "FIRST DAY OF SALE" cancel in Vermont

A few years ago, the USPS introduced "FIRST DAY OF SALE" cancels at any post office that was willing to purchase one. Beginning in 2007, the Postal Service agreed to allow new stamps to be sold nationwide on the First Day of Issue. Stamps would still be officially issued at one post office designated by the USPS and that post office would have a "FIRST DAY OF ISSUE" cancel.

A local stamp collector arranged for the Bethel Vermont post office to acquire one of the special cancels.

A word about the cachet on this cover. Calvin Coolidge became president while he was visiting his father at Plymouth, Vermont in 1923. He and Chester Arthur are the 2 men born in Vermont who have served at president of the United States.

Sutton Post Office Closes

On Friday, August 27, 2010, word began circulating around the Vermont philatelic community that the Sutton (Caledonia County) post office would be closing at the end of business that day. There had been a small news story the previous evening on WCAX TV (Channel 3, Burlington).

The news reports also said that the lease on the premises which housed the Sutton office would run out at the end of August, 2010 and would not be renewed. A USPS facility person said that the he had found not acceptable alternative sites in Sutton.

Immediately, collectors contacted the Sutton PO and the officer-in-charge, Barbara Pine. One was successful in getting 20 last day cancels on postal cards. Another made the long trip from central VT to the Sutton PO. Sutton is one of the communities in the North East Kingdom that you "can't get there from here". He was able to get 20 envelopes cancelled on the last day.

The Sutton patrons were only notified a few days previous to the closure. Those with post office boxes were now assigned to the West Burke PO. West Burke is 4 miles to the East on US Route 5.

According to a news report in the local paper, the Sutton PO office cost the USPS $45,000 to run but only generated $24,000 income in a year. That's about $250.00 a week.

Sutton was originally established on May 30, 1811 as "Billymead". There is one example known from the Billymead timeframe. According to postal records the Post Office name was changed to Sutton sometime in 1817 although the Vermont legislature changed the name of the town to Sutton in 1812.