Rochester’s New Postmaster Says She’s Happy To Be Here
By Martha Slater

Brenda Hosmer smiled happily as she noted that she loves her new job as postmaster of the Rochester Post Office. Hosmer officially assumed her duties August 26, taking over from Nancy Needham, who had served as officer in charge there since the retirement of long-time postmaster Annette West last December.

Now supervising a staff of five in Rochester, Hosmer came there from serving as postmaster in Forestdale. In the almost three decades since she began working for the USPS in 1978, she has seen technology make big changes in the way mail is processed and delivered.

"When I started as a clerk in White River Junction back then, I was one of the original clerks trained to operate the LSM (letter sorting machine)," she recalled. "It was a big innovation at the time."

Hosmer worked there until 1986, when she left to operate her own bulk mailing business. Six years later, she returned to the post office in White River Jct., this time in a supervisory capacity. From there, she became officer in charge (interim postmaster) in Strafford, a place she has fond memories of.

"That was one of the best places I could have started," Hosmer said. "It was small and the people there were such a tight community, always helping each other out."

Her first postmaster position was in North Hartland, where she stayed for three years. During that time, she also served as officer in charge in Chelsea and Taftsville. She served as postmaster or officer in charge in Hydeville, Pittsford, Fairlee and Forestdale, before coming to Rochester.

Hosmer says she is thrilled with the staff in Rochester.

"I have the best staff here!" she said. "They’re knowledgeable, very efficient, and work well together."

Hosmer says her biggest goal as Rochester’s postmaster is "to maintain the high quality of service that people in this community have been getting here."

Any requests?

"Well, I would like to get everyone to use their correct E911 address," she said. "Most people do, but even here in a small town like Rochester, the staff sometimes has a hard time figuring out who a piece of mail goes to—the correct address is a big help!"

The mother of three grown children, grandmother of five and great-grandmother of one, Hosmer likes to sew and make quilts and also takes oil painting lessons. A cheerful woman with a big smile, she lives in Brandon now, but said she hopes to find a home in Rochester and become involved in the community.

"I really do love it here," said Hosmer. "I plan to stay here until I retire."

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