Sun Dozen: One man's fight with the U.S. Post Office

"That was fun to write," Staff Writer Steve Collins said about his story set in the Aroostook County village of Estcourt Station. Steve Stahlman is the only full-time resident there, and Stahlman hasn’t gotten any mail service since the pandemic began. And his pleas for home mail delivery haven’t gotten anywhere with postal officials.

Collins found out about Maine’s northernmost resident when Congressional candidate Tiffany Bond tweeted about Stahlman and Estcourt Station. "When I saw that, I knew it was a story I had to dig into," Collins told me.

Part of what makes this such an intriguing story are tidbits of what it’s like to live in such a remote village that’s in the U.S. and Canada.

For example, the road leading to Stahlman’s house weaves across the border several times. Which creates a dilemma for the neighborhood.

"Since 9/11, Americans in the town have been barred from crossing into Canada from 4:45 p.m. Friday until the border patrol office reopens Monday morning," Collins says. "Honestly, some folks up there have to stay in their homes all weekend because they can't leave without crossing the border."

In spite of the potential border violations, Collins paints a charming picture of the area. "I really have to visit that place sometime," he says. "On a weekday."

You can visit the story about Stahlman and his empty mailbox without running afoul of any immigration laws.

— Carl Natale, Sun Journal’s Duke of URL