ORWIGSBURG -- A mold problem is forcing a post office in Schuylkill County to close its doors.
The Orwigsburg post office is expected to only be closed temporarily, but the situation is causing some concern among community members.
Saturday will be the last day that the post office will be open until mold in the building can be cleaned up.
So starting Monday, people who pick up mail at the Orwigsburg post office will have to go to the Pottsville post office.
A sign on the door or a letter in a postal box is the only notice people like Bob Girvin and his wife Betty Ann received to let them know the post office will be closing temporarily.
"It's a shame. It's a shame for the community. I know a lot of businesses have their mailboxes here and it makes it tough for them and some of the senior citizens like the convenience of mailing packages," Bob Girvin said.
"It's an inconvenience not so much for me, but for the town," said Betty Ann Girvin.
The notice reads that the post office is closing to "remediate environmental issues."
A spokesperson for the United States Postal Service tells Newswatch 16 those issues include a mold problem that happened when moisture from the roof leaked in.
Until the problem is fixed, people who have P.O. Boxes in Orwigsburg can either have mail delivered to their homes or drive more than ten miles to Pottsville to pick up their mail at the post office on North Centre Street.
"We got a long drive, probably about 45 minutes to an hour a day," said Jim Raffa of Orwigsburg. "So again, it is what it is. It's gonna be very inconvenient. My wife and I mail probably about 20 packages a week."
Even though the post office is closed, you're still going to be able to drop off your mail there because the postal box will still be in service. Some of the people we spoke to said it's helpful, but there is still an inconvenience.
"Well that's nice. That's nice, but we need this post office. The business people need it. The residents need it," said Betty Ann Girvin.
"It's saddening because like I said before, it's a convenience factor," said Brandon Choate of Orwigsburg.
The owners of the building will be responsible for the mold cleanup. Exactly when the Orwigsburg post office will reopen is still unclear, but people in the community hope it is sooner rather than later.