Sandpoint postmaster stamps an end to career

SANDPOINT —The United States Postal Service has been good to Sandpoint Postmaster Linda Oldridge since she began her career in September of 1977.

Her employment took her from the bottom rung of the mail delivery system to the head of the Sandpoint service. On Tuesday, however, she’ll be closing her office door for the last time and moving into retirement.

After more than 30 years in the business, the transition is a tough one. Residents can help out by grabbing a slice of cake and giving their well-wishes at a party starting 1 p.m. Tuesday afternoon.

“We have a great team in place here,” Oldridge said. “I’m really going to miss them and seeing the customers everyday.”

Oldridge began her career as a postal professional as a young woman in Princeton. At the time, she signed on for a position as a Saturday postmaster relief. It was a small job, but it introduced her to the possibilities that the service provided for a career-minded individual.

The postmaster relief position open doors toward a full-time job as a mail carrier in Moscow. As one of the in-the-field workers, the position gave her the hands-on experience she’d later use to supervise employees as an administrator.

Oldridge got her first chance at an office position when she learned that the postal service in Tensed needed an officer-in-charge. The small office gave Oldridge her first taste of management, preparing her for a leadership in larger operations.

Later, Olridge earned the top spot at a local office and continued her journey northward through the state when she was hired as the postmaster in Sagle. She completed the her career arc in 2003 when she accepted the position of the Sandpoint postmaster.

The gradual increase in responsibility meant that Oldridge adapted easily to her new role. In general, the postmaster’s responsibilities include preparing reports, managing employees and being able to fill in for different duties when the need arises. That meant that customers most frequently interacted with Oldridge at the counter alongside the other office workers.

Throughout her career, a lot of changes came around in the national postal service. By far the largest was the introduction of computers and the Internet into everyday business. At that point, every procedure previously established in the business changed.

“Even the smallest thing suddenly involved a computer in some way or another,” Oldridge said.

After Tuesday, Oldridge plans to devote more time toward her kids, grandchildren and her husband Neil. She also will enjoy more rides with the family horses and spend plenty of quality moments with her beloved dog Shadow. However, a part of her will always miss the flavor of professional life and the dependable nature of employees like Jerry Hahn, her second-in-command.

“We have a very successful office here, and the reason is because we have a great team of employees and customers that continue to support us,” she said.