Eileen Rouse, a dedicated postmistress, established Goulais River’s only free-standing postal office in 1958. She served the community for over half a century, providing convenience and personal connections to her customers.

A Legacy of Community Service

From the archives of the Sault Ste. Marie Public Library, Eileen's post office was more than just a place to send letters and packages. It was a hub of camaraderie and even a spot for baby weighing. Eileen established the post office at the end of her parents’ driveway off Highway 552 West, housed in a small, yellow-framed, 16 x 18-foot structure built by her father, Peter Rouse.

The Rouse Family and Early Postal History

The Rouse family, headed by Eileen’s parents, Peter and Violet of St. Joseph Island, moved to Goulais when they purchased a sheep farm. Eileen was preceded by a handful of postmasters and postmistresses in the area, with the earliest record being Andrew McAuley in the mid-1880s. McAuley operated an outlet out of his farmhouse and was famously known to transport mail from Goulais to Sault Ste Marie by dog sled in the winter.

Innovation and Growth

Until Eileen's time, no one had provided a postal service from a free-standing structure. At 18, she achieved this milestone when postmistress Mrs. John Jones retired. A 1976 Sault Star article shared that Mrs. Jones had encouraged Eileen to begin a postal career shortly after her high school graduation, unaware it would kickstart a half-century career.

Over the decades, Eileen's post office saw many changes. In 1961, she moved the yellow-framed structure to Highway 17N. After 14 years in business, she purchased a larger office trailer. The shop also saw a transition of furry friends, with visitors greeted by Candy the dog in the early years and later by P.T. Fitz the cat, a stray who befriended Rouse three years before her death in 2008.

Personal Touch and Community Impact

Regulars enjoyed the convenience and charm of visiting Eileen’s homey post office rather than making the city trek to the large post office on Queen Street. When they visited Eileen, they were visiting someone who knew their names, where they lived, and the goings-on of their lives. This dedication earned Eileen two very important distinctions in 2007: the Goulais River Long Service Award in memory of logger David Fleury, and a Canada Post 50-Years of Service Award.

Preserving History

This article was written using information compiled from the Sault Star Collection at the Sault Ste. Marie Public Library. Each week, the Sault Ste. Marie Public Library and its Archives provide SooToday readers with a glimpse of the city’s past. Find out more about what the Public Library has to offer at www.ssmpl.ca and look for more "Remember This?" columns here.

Sources: Sault Star- Fri, Dec 31, 1976; Sault Star- Jan 3, 1977; Sault Star- Sat, Jan 26, 2000