By STEPHANIE A. JAMES
Staff Writer
Jennifer McCune has had some unusual experiences as a mail carrier.
She has had a goat crawl under her vehicle before and has seen a snake in a mailbox.
She has worked 27 years in Concord.
Last Thursday, other postal employees recognized McCune for her 35 years of total service.
McCune, 59, started her postal career in Madison Heights.
Someone suggested that she take the test required for prospective mail carriers. She passed the test and first started carrying mail in Madison Heights.
She did not always want to be a carrier and was skeptical about her new position.
“I did not think I would make it through the probationary period. I did not imagine I would stay this long,” said McCune.
For 27 years, the Amherst native has worked the same route, which consists of delivering to 538 residences in the Stonewall area.
Over the years, McCune has learned to deal with a heat wave while delivering mail in a vehicle that is not equipped with air conditioning. Also, mail carriers have a rubber hammer to get ice off of vehicle that may have been the result of snowy weather.
“I have enjoyed the job. I enjoyed the people I worked with. It is a whole lot easier going in if you like the people you work with,” said McCune.
She has seen some changes over the years.
McCune said that things are different from when she first started. When she first started the carriers would put the mail in order manually. They have since evolved using machines.
Another change is her schedule.
In the past, she arrived to work at 5 a.m. instead of her current 7 a.m.
McCune plans to retire in a few years.