Landlord's unpaid utility bill closes Childwold Post Office

PIERCEFIELD — The Childwold Post Office moved its operations to Piercefield Tuesday, after the hamlet's office went dark because of an unpaid utility bill.

The post office at 9716 Route 3 in Childwold has been operating in the dark since Friday. It is the landlord's responsibility to pay the electricity bill as part of a lease agreement with the U.S. Postal Service.

Childwold's 28 post office boxholders had their boxes moved to the Piercefield office at 39 Waller St. and received new keys. Postal Service spokeswoman Maureen Marion said that the decision to move operations was made Saturday and that there is no timetable for reopening the Childwold office in its current location.

The Childwold Post Office was closed for two months last spring because of water and sewer problems associated with a nonfunctioning bathroom. At that time, services also were moved to Piercefield.