Harry Keefer sits on the steps of the “Federal Building”, a two-room shack where he operated the Post Office and provided the only telephone on the island. As Postmaster he met all Union Steamship arrivals. The building was conveniently located between the wharf and his home on Malaspina Promenade.
Mr. Keefer also stocked Savary essentials such as fishing tackle, mousetraps, cigarettes, chocolate bars and postcards. He also sold gas and kerosene, pumped from the drums delivered to the wharf, which he then moved to his property. His hours of operation seem to have been quite flexible and a few of us still remember waiting on his deck for the mail to be sorted.
About 1960, after Mr. Keefer’s death, the property was acquired by his relatives who took down the building in order to construct a new A-frame.
Any idea who the possible chocolate bar customer might be, sitting on the stairs with Mr. Keefer? We would love to learn her name.