First Posted: 2/8/2015
DELPHOS — Twenty years ago the Museum of Postal History started out in the basement of a small-town post office.
Two decades later, museum director Gary Levitt stood before some of the museum’s biggest supporters inside an actual museum that’s been in operation for nearly six years in Delphos.
“We’re celebrating the creating of this museum,” Levitt said.
Levitt couldn’t be more proud of the accomplishment. After all, the museum first started in the same post office he was once postmaster.
While he has since retired, his heart has never left the profession. The museum is his passion and he has plans for additional exhibits to add to the 11,158-square-foot building.
The museum has an annual operating budget of $32,000 and no paid employees, all volunteers. All money is raised through fundraisers and donations.
One of the biggest donations, $15,000, comes from the Arnold Dienstberger Foundation of Delphos. Foundation Vice President Doug Harter said the museum is just one of the nonprofit organizations the foundation donates to and a very worthy cause.
“They have put Delphos on the national map as a postal museum and they have contributed a lot to the community,” Harter said.
People come from all over the country to see the museum, he said.
The museum at 339 N. Main St. is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays.
The gala is held to thank the donors of the museum, Levitt said.
“We basically bring attention to those who have been significant in helping,” Levitt said.
The postal museum also has a rental hall where the gala was held, which also is used to raise money. Weddings and other events are held in the hall upstairs at the museum.
“We are a one-stop shop. We do it all from the catering to the flowers to the limo,” Levitt said.
