If you’ve visited the Somerton Post Office anytime since 1989, you’ve probably interacted with Jerry McGovern.
In all, McGovern has worked for the Postal Service for 39 years.
“Thirty-five of them right here,” he said.
McGovern is a Port Richmond native and North Catholic High School graduate. He attended college for a little bit and worked in a machine shop before an uncle, who worked at what was then Philadelphia’s main post office branch at 30th and Market streets, suggested he apply for a job there.
Then 23, McGovern was looking for a career with a nice salary and benefits. He began his career with the Postal Service in May 1985 as a mail sorter and flat sorter, remaining at 30th Street for three years. He spent the next year working at branches in Holmesburg, Kensington and Bridesburg before arriving at the Somerton Post Office, 669 Hendrix St.
“My home away from home,” he said.
A Warrington resident, he works weekdays from 8:45 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. The Postal Service used to classify the workers as window clerks. Now, McGovern and his fellow employees are given the more professional-sounding title of Sales and Service Associates.
A lot has changed over the years. A stamp cost 25 cents when McGovern arrived in Somerton in 1989. Now, they are 73 cents, though customers have been able to save since forever stamps were introduced in 2007.
McGovern remembers the time when the Postal Service started to accept credit cards as payment.
“I thought they were crazy,” he said. “Who is going to buy stamps on a credit card?”
Of course, now, many customers use credit cards for purchases instead of cash or personal checks.
Employees now do a lot of scanning of barcoded packages, flats and letters.
The way customers use the Postal Service has changed, too.
“We went from letters to packages,” McGovern said.
The popularity of online consumer shopping has also impacted the Postal Service.
“We are now the return department for all that online shopping,” McGovern said.
Though Somerton has had a large Russian-born population for some time, the area has become more diverse with an influx of people from countries such as Afghanistan, Turkey and Ukraine. McGovern and customers who don’t speak English communicate using a phone translator app.
Business usually picks up in September, with the summer months slower due to vacations. The tax season and Christmas are especially busy. Some people will soon start to drop off their completed mail-in ballots for the election.
In 2020, during the coronavirus pandemic, the Postal Service adhered to social distancing policies. Plastic shields were placed between customers and workers, and everyone wore masks. There were no days off for workers.
“The mail must go,” McGovern said.
Maybe that’s one reason the Postal Service usually scores high on surveys of the most trusted government agencies.
Visitors to Somerton Post Office will hear some radio sports talk in the morning and then some country music, along with seeing a smile from McGovern.
“I probably know 75 or 80 percent of our customers,” he said. “I’ve seen young kids grow up and have their own kids.”
McGovern said he is lucky to deal with so many satisfied customers.
“They love this place,” he said.
The building, which opened in 1964, is just west of Bustleton Avenue. McGovern calls it a “little country place right in the middle of the city.”
McGovern likes dealing with the public.
“I enjoy people. I enjoy my work,” he said. “No two days are alike.”
McGovern has developed friendships with some of the customers. He remembers a woman used to bring him one of his favorite snacks, spiced wafers, every year.
It’s not unusual for McGovern to be out somewhere and be approached by someone.
“Don’t you work at Somerton Post Office?” they’ll ask.
Longtime customers who haven’t paid a recent visit are pleasantly surprised to still see McGovern behind the counter.
“You’re still here?” McGovern said some of them ask. “When are you going to retire?”
McGovern will turn 62 next month. He’s happily married with two adult children. He has one grandson, with another due in January. There will come a time in the not-too-distant future when he retires from the Postal Service. When that happens, he’ll stay busy as a high school basketball referee.
McGovern is glad he took his uncle’s advice to pursue a career with the Postal Service, which has given him the chance to use his people skills to assist the people of Somerton and other neighborhoods for so long.
“I have had a great career,” he said. “The Post Office has been good to me.” ••
