P-J photo by Dennis Phillips Sam Teresi, Jamestown mayor, signing commemorative envelops with an image of James Prendergast, the Fenton Mansion, the 200th Jamestown post office anniversary handstamp and signatures of the current Jamestown post master, mayor, Fenton History Center board president and director.

JAMESTOWN, N.Y. — Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night kept the Fenton History Center from honoring the Jamestown Post Office on its 200th birthday.

On Friday, a celebration was held at the Fenton, located at 67 Washington St., commemorating the 200th anniversary of the Jamestown post office. Fenton staff and volunteers were on hand to collect information or recollections about the Jamestown post office. Artifacts and archival pieces from the Fenton collections were on exhibit during the event. Addresses were given by Sam Teresi, Jamestown mayor; Andrew Goodell, state assemblyman; Eugene Oyer, Jamestown station post master; Richard Lundquist, Fenton Board president; Norman Carlson, Fenton collection manager; Randy Holcomb, a representative for state Sen. Cathy Young; and Karen Livsey,  with family stories about the Jamestown post office.

Teresi said it was a significant day for the city and region when the post office was established in Jamestown 200 years ago. He said since then, Jamestown has become known nationally for several famous people like Lucille Ball, Roger Tory Peterson and Gov. Reuben Fenton.

“The first thing that put Jamestown on the map in a big way was the first post office,” Teresi said.

During the event, there was a special commemorative hand stamp available. Terry Gugino, post office lead sales associate, provided the hand stamp that was customized with an image of the 1904 post office building. Steve Johnson, Fenton History Center trustee, created the hand stamp.

The commemorative hand stamp was available by bringing an envelope ready to mail or by purchasing a commemorative envelope with an image of James Prendergast, the Fenton Mansion, the anniversary handstamp and signatures of the current Jamestown post master; mayor; Fenton History Center board president; and director, Joni Blackman.