Friday, February 10, 2023

History of the Cortez Post Office








By Dan Fisher

The landmark Cortez Post Office is the heart of a historic Florida fishing village on a peninsula in Sarasota Bay.

 

"I like this place a lot because it is so small, and the customers that come to pick up their mail are very friendly," says Cortez Postmaster Sarah Whitson.

 

Sales/Distribution Associate Josue Montanez, says he, too, finds the post office a place of not just retail but a small-town treasure. "The small-town community vibes stand out from other post offices here at Cortez." 

 

Cortez Postmaster Sarah Whitson.



Retail Associate Josue Montanez


Today, the Cortez Post Office, located at 12112 44th Ave., provides mail service to its residents, preserving a 137-year legacy of growth and united historical heritage.

 

The origins of the post office date back to its first establishment on September 11, 1888, before its discontinuation on April 4, 1890.

 


After the first commercial building was built in 1890 by William C. Bratton, the Bratton Store (above), the town was renamed Hunter's Point to Cortez because there was another Hunter's Point in Florida.  

 

Then Cortez Post Office opened again in 1896 at Bratton Store. Louisa J. C. Bratton served as Postmaster. 

 



By 1901, the store expanded, and in 1921 enlarged, the building on pilings and converted into a hotel called the Albion Inn, according to an archeological survey by the Archeological Services Branch of the National Park Service. In 1974, the Bratton Store building and property became the property of the U.S. Coast Guard (above).

 

At the Cortez Cultural Center, Cindy Rodgers shared curated documentation of the legacy of the post office. 

 

A clipping of a captioned photo from "The Islander" depicted Harry Ditmus, a courtesy photo curated from the book Images of America: Anna Maria Island by Bonner Joy. Here, Harry Ditmus is said to be known throughout the surrounding areas of Manatee County as "Uncle Sam Ditmus" with his white hair and beard and worked as an enterprising mailman after years as a minstrel and entertainer in New York before moving to Florida in 1916.  

 

Postmaster of Anna Maria Island in 1922, Joy says in the caption that Ditmus began mail delivery in 1924 for Anna Maria Island, Bradenton Beach, and Cortez.

 

Ditmus, well known throughout Cortez and Anna Maria Island as the mailman, used to give children rides to school in his mail truck while out on his deliveries, Rogers says. 

 

The accompanying article is the scene of Ditmus pointing to a mural painting of a Western scene that was fastened to his mail truck. Joy's book says that the painting illustrates a Wells Fargo coach "outrunning some Native Americans – an image familiar at the time as a Chesterfield cigarette advertisement," says Rogers.

 

A time when Ditmus was a seller of advertisements when he had the painting on his truck until orders came from the Post Office Department for its immediate removal. According to Rodgers, the painting was preserved in a frame and kept safe since its removal.

 

In 1957, the post office became part of a strip mall on Cortez Road, ushering in the next generation. The postmaster at this time was Harry F. Swathwood, Indiana native and longtime Cortez resident, known throughout the town for being in the bait and tackle business, according to an archived article preserved by the Florida Maritime Museum titled Dedication of the Post Office. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1940 as a Regional Inspector before his retirement in 1945 and went on to pass the Civil Service Examination in 1954 for Postmaster of Cortez. On October 21, 1963, Swathwood appealed to the Manatee County Florida Board of Commissioners during a "regular session" in the Bradenton courthouse, requesting for the renaming of Cortez Road to be called 44th Ave.

 


On August 25, 1967, Wyman Coarsey (above) became the Postmaster for Cortez after 17 years serving as an oil truck driver for the Pure Oil Company from 1950 to 1962, according to his online obituary. He served as postmaster until his retirement in 1986.

 

The post office is among 31,247 Postal Service-managed retail offices nationwide. The strip mall that houses the post office is owned by John Banyas, who also owns Cortez Bait & Seafood Inc., Swordfish Grill & Tiki Bar, and Cortez Kitchen.

 


A bluegrass band performs outside the Cortez Post Office.


For many residents, Cortez Post Office is a valued community member. 

 

"Recognized by its uniqueness by the Cortez Village Historic Society and the Florida Maritime Museum," says Whitson. "The descendants of the families also recognize it settled in this small village."


Dan Fisher is a freelance journalist who works as a Tour 1 Mail Processing Clerk at the Manasota P&DC. His articles have appeared in various Florida magazines.

Thursday, February 9, 2023

Loyal and Dedicated Employees

 


Orlando Processing & Distribution Center Supervisors, Distribution Operations Veronica Sanguinetti and Michael Hayes were each presented a Service Award and Pin for 35 years of service by Manager, Distribution Operations Antoinette Harris (not pictured). 

Thank you for staying with us through the years and for all of the contributions both of you have made in making our organization successful!

Wednesday, February 8, 2023

You Make a Difference

 

St. Petersburg Gulfwinds Station Letter Carrier Edward Zazycki (left) was recently presented his 40-year Service Award and Pin by Postmaster Jessie Davis.

Edward, thank you for all of your hard work and dedication over the past four decades. We are lucky to have you on our team.


Tuesday, February 7, 2023

Virtuoso Performance

 

Orlando College Park Station Lead Retail Associate Harietta Finley received her first Gold Star Award of 2023 for achieving a perfect score on a Retail Customer Experience (RCS) transaction from Manager, Customer Services Gerry Santiago (not pictured). Finley was awarded three Gold Stars in 2022 so she’s off to a running start this year.

Keep up the amazing work, Harietta. 


Monday, February 6, 2023

You Make a Difference

 

St. Petersburg, FL Gateway Station Lead Retail Associate Ian “Nicole” Miller received a Gold Star Award for achieving a perfect score on a Retail Customer Experience (RCS) transaction from Manager, Customer Services Oneydo Diaz-Araujo (not pictured).

Thank you, Nicole. Great job. You’re awesome!


Sunday, February 5, 2023

Cheers to 40 Years




Orlando College Park City Carrier Wadie Hood was recently presented her 40-year Service Award and Pin from Manager, Customer Services Gerry Santiago (not pictured).

Congratulations, Wadie, on achieving this milestone. We know you have worked hard for this accomplishment, and we truly appreciate your dedication to USPS and to the country as an Air Force veteran.

Wednesday, December 28, 2022

Santa makes a surprise visit to Sarasota plant

 


A few weeks before Christmas, Santa Claus was at home in the North Pole, where it was really cold. He decided to take a little break from the wintery weather before his big delivery day, so he came to Sarasota to take in some warm weather and hang out on the beach. He also swung by the Manasota P&DC to make sure all of the packages and letters were getting processed. 

While in Sarasota, Santa heard rumors the Grinch was coming to town, so he beat him to the punch. "We're not going to allow the Grinch to take away Christmas from us," he said. "These employees are way too dedicated for that to happen."

Santa went onto say he keeps in touch with Postal officials during the holiday season, so he always knows what's going on, even from the North Pole. 


Mail Processing Clerk Tim Hendley told Santa (aka Plant Manager John McTigue) all he wanted for Christmas this year was an extra paycheck.


Mail Handler Karla Scarbrough was giddy with delight after receiving a candy cane from Santa Claus.  


Mail Processing Clerk Lee Scales accepts a candy cane from Santa. 


Mail Processing Clerk John Compos hams it up with Santa for the camera. 


Mail Handler Michelle Stewart was overjoyed by the surprise visit from Santa Claus.


Manager, Distribution Operations Donald Waiters told Santa that although it was crunch time at the Post Office, he and his team were holiday ready.


Mail Processing Clerk Helen Hendricks felt like a big kid visiting with Santa. 


Mail Handler Cheryl Moore poses for a selfie with Santa.


Network Specialist Rachel Gonzalez was all smiles after being told she stayed off the "naughty" list this year. 


Supervisor, Distribution Operations Tracey Dang told Santa it's been a very busy holiday season. Since Thanksgiving, Manasota P&DC employees, including Tour 1 Mail Processing Clerk Dan Fisher (left), have processed over 47 million letters and greeting cards.  


In-Plant Support Katrina Brown (left) and Mail Handler Brenda Morris jumped at the chance to have their photo taken with Santa. 


Mail Processing Clerk Anna Castillo was all smiles while posing for a photo with Santa Claus.


Mail Handler David Sitte greets Santa Claus, who was making rounds in the Florida 2 District to be sure operations at USPS facilities were on schedule.


Mail Processing Clerk Juana Ochoa gladly accepts a sweet treat from the man in red. 


Mail Handler Assistant Samuel Castillo accepts a candy case from Santa.