In the small town of Earlville, Mike Cornwell a lifelong resident prepares to say farewell to his PO Box.

“Saying goodbye,” Cornwell said.  “Have to turn in my key after thirty-five years.”

The city says on April 28th the 45-year-old post office will close.  For how long?  Not even the mayor knows for sure.  He tells us he found out just a few days ago in a letter mailed to all 820 residents.
“So there’s no time here for us to sort things out or for anybody really,” said Mayor Dan Wheeler.
The post office leases space in a building near the city’s Main street.  Wheeler says the postmaster and landlord haven’t reached a new lease agreement.
“We have no dealings with it or the contracts,” Wheeler said.  “It’s always been here.  We just assumed it was going to stay.”

On Wednesday, residents stopped in to clean out one of 450 PO Boxes and fill out change of address slips.

“It’s a shame,” Cornwell said.  Both he and his parents used the post office all their lives.  “Earlville is going to lose the only lifeline it has. ”

Phil Ries echoed the sad sentiment and loss of history for the town.

“It just hurts a small town like us,” Ries said.  “But what are you going to do?”

The city says it contacted several Iowa representatives to help find a resolution before time runs out, and the last mailbox closes for good.