In 1930, Maude McQuagge Zingarello, who was born at what's now Deep Springs Park, became postmistress of Fountain.
To serve in that capacity, Zingarello had to provide her own post office. She worked in the store of Jackson and Mary Jane Parker on what's now U.S. 231. She asked her employers if she could install the post office in their building, and they agreed. During the first few years, she earned $12 to 15 a month. This amount came from commissions on stamps plus 3 cents for each money order she sold.
She used Parker's store until 1939, when Jackson Parker died and she purchased the store from his wife. By 1944, she received $288 per year.
Although the government paid about $6 per month to lease the post office, the postmistress was required to furnish her own counter, caged booth, and cubicles for the mail.
She also had to have a safe or lock box. In between selling stamps, handing out letters and keeping records, Zingarello pumped gas and sold items such as groceries, drinks, clothing and dry goods. The store opened at 5 a.m. and closed at 8 p.m. She also had to sort the mail and tie it in bundles if there were more than 10 letters. Next she placed the bundles in the mail pouch and carried it across the highway to the train station. At 11 a.m. the southbound train came by for Panama City. At 4 p.m. it was time for the northbound train. Aboard the train, a postal employee sorted the mail.
The busiest times in the post office were Christmas and when the Sears, Roebuck & Co. and Montgomery Ward catalogs came in for delivery. Several trips had to be made between the post office and the train depot on those days.
Later, when the train no longer stopped at Fountain, Zingarello hung the mail on a crane along the tracks. The train came by with an outstretched iron hook and snatched the mailbag. To send parcel post, she had to flag down the train.
In 1953, the post office went to third class because of Owen Wood's huge development company. She remained on the job for more than 40 years and eventually built a new post office on U.S. 231. (Marlene Womack)
Mrs. Maude McQuagge Zingarello, 98, of Alford, Fla., passed away Wednesday, April 13, 2005, at her residence. She was a lifelong resident of this area. Mrs. Zingarello retired as postmaster of Fountain after 38 years. She was a member of Gulfview United Methodist Church of Panama City Beach and of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees. Mrs. Zingarello was preceded in death by her husband, Frank Zingarello in 1977; a brother; and three sisters. She is survived by her nieces and nephews, Carol Woods and husband, Elbert, of Compass Lake, Fla., Dorothy Sheffield of Fountain, Frances Cook and husband, Steve, of Dothan, Ala., and Jimmy Mayo and wife, Carol, of Green Valley, Ariz.; and several other nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
To serve in that capacity, Zingarello had to provide her own post office. She worked in the store of Jackson and Mary Jane Parker on what's now U.S. 231. She asked her employers if she could install the post office in their building, and they agreed. During the first few years, she earned $12 to 15 a month. This amount came from commissions on stamps plus 3 cents for each money order she sold.
She used Parker's store until 1939, when Jackson Parker died and she purchased the store from his wife. By 1944, she received $288 per year.
Although the government paid about $6 per month to lease the post office, the postmistress was required to furnish her own counter, caged booth, and cubicles for the mail.
She also had to have a safe or lock box. In between selling stamps, handing out letters and keeping records, Zingarello pumped gas and sold items such as groceries, drinks, clothing and dry goods. The store opened at 5 a.m. and closed at 8 p.m. She also had to sort the mail and tie it in bundles if there were more than 10 letters. Next she placed the bundles in the mail pouch and carried it across the highway to the train station. At 11 a.m. the southbound train came by for Panama City. At 4 p.m. it was time for the northbound train. Aboard the train, a postal employee sorted the mail.
The busiest times in the post office were Christmas and when the Sears, Roebuck & Co. and Montgomery Ward catalogs came in for delivery. Several trips had to be made between the post office and the train depot on those days.
Later, when the train no longer stopped at Fountain, Zingarello hung the mail on a crane along the tracks. The train came by with an outstretched iron hook and snatched the mailbag. To send parcel post, she had to flag down the train.
In 1953, the post office went to third class because of Owen Wood's huge development company. She remained on the job for more than 40 years and eventually built a new post office on U.S. 231. (Marlene Womack)
Mrs. Maude McQuagge Zingarello, 98, of Alford, Fla., passed away Wednesday, April 13, 2005, at her residence. She was a lifelong resident of this area. Mrs. Zingarello retired as postmaster of Fountain after 38 years. She was a member of Gulfview United Methodist Church of Panama City Beach and of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees. Mrs. Zingarello was preceded in death by her husband, Frank Zingarello in 1977; a brother; and three sisters. She is survived by her nieces and nephews, Carol Woods and husband, Elbert, of Compass Lake, Fla., Dorothy Sheffield of Fountain, Frances Cook and husband, Steve, of Dothan, Ala., and Jimmy Mayo and wife, Carol, of Green Valley, Ariz.; and several other nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
In 1930, Maude McQuagge Zingarello, who was born at what's now Deep Springs Park, became postmistress of Fountain.
To serve in that capacity, Zingarello had to provide her own post office. She worked in the store of Jackson and Mary Jane Parker on what's now U.S. 231. She asked her employers if she could install the post office in their building, and they agreed. During the first few years, she earned $12 to 15 a month. This amount came from commissions on stamps plus 3 cents for each money order she sold.
She used Parker's store until 1939, when Jackson Parker died and she purchased the store from his wife. By 1944, she received $288 per year.
Although the government paid about $6 per month to lease the post office, the postmistress was required to furnish her own counter, caged booth, and cubicles for the mail.
She also had to have a safe or lock box. In between selling stamps, handing out letters and keeping records, Zingarello pumped gas and sold items such as groceries, drinks, clothing and dry goods. The store opened at 5 a.m. and closed at 8 p.m. She also had to sort the mail and tie it in bundles if there were more than 10 letters. Next she placed the bundles in the mail pouch and carried it across the highway to the train station. At 11 a.m. the southbound train came by for Panama City. At 4 p.m. it was time for the northbound train. Aboard the train, a postal employee sorted the mail.
The busiest times in the post office were Christmas and when the Sears, Roebuck & Co. and Montgomery Ward catalogs came in for delivery. Several trips had to be made between the post office and the train depot on those days.
Later, when the train no longer stopped at Fountain, Zingarello hung the mail on a crane along the tracks. The train came by with an outstretched iron hook and snatched the mailbag. To send parcel post, she had to flag down the train.
In 1953, the post office went to third class because of Owen Wood's huge development company. She remained on the job for more than 40 years and eventually built a new post office on U.S. 231. (Marlene Womack)
Mrs. Maude McQuagge Zingarello, 98, of Alford, Fla., passed away Wednesday, April 13, 2005, at her residence. She was a lifelong resident of this area. Mrs. Zingarello retired as postmaster of Fountain after 38 years. She was a member of Gulfview United Methodist Church of Panama City Beach and of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees. Mrs. Zingarello was preceded in death by her husband, Frank Zingarello in 1977; a brother; and three sisters. She is survived by her nieces and nephews, Carol Woods and husband, Elbert, of Compass Lake, Fla., Dorothy Sheffield of Fountain, Frances Cook and husband, Steve, of Dothan, Ala., and Jimmy Mayo and wife, Carol, of Green Valley, Ariz.; and several other nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
To serve in that capacity, Zingarello had to provide her own post office. She worked in the store of Jackson and Mary Jane Parker on what's now U.S. 231. She asked her employers if she could install the post office in their building, and they agreed. During the first few years, she earned $12 to 15 a month. This amount came from commissions on stamps plus 3 cents for each money order she sold.
She used Parker's store until 1939, when Jackson Parker died and she purchased the store from his wife. By 1944, she received $288 per year.
Although the government paid about $6 per month to lease the post office, the postmistress was required to furnish her own counter, caged booth, and cubicles for the mail.
She also had to have a safe or lock box. In between selling stamps, handing out letters and keeping records, Zingarello pumped gas and sold items such as groceries, drinks, clothing and dry goods. The store opened at 5 a.m. and closed at 8 p.m. She also had to sort the mail and tie it in bundles if there were more than 10 letters. Next she placed the bundles in the mail pouch and carried it across the highway to the train station. At 11 a.m. the southbound train came by for Panama City. At 4 p.m. it was time for the northbound train. Aboard the train, a postal employee sorted the mail.
The busiest times in the post office were Christmas and when the Sears, Roebuck & Co. and Montgomery Ward catalogs came in for delivery. Several trips had to be made between the post office and the train depot on those days.
Later, when the train no longer stopped at Fountain, Zingarello hung the mail on a crane along the tracks. The train came by with an outstretched iron hook and snatched the mailbag. To send parcel post, she had to flag down the train.
In 1953, the post office went to third class because of Owen Wood's huge development company. She remained on the job for more than 40 years and eventually built a new post office on U.S. 231. (Marlene Womack)
Mrs. Maude McQuagge Zingarello, 98, of Alford, Fla., passed away Wednesday, April 13, 2005, at her residence. She was a lifelong resident of this area. Mrs. Zingarello retired as postmaster of Fountain after 38 years. She was a member of Gulfview United Methodist Church of Panama City Beach and of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees. Mrs. Zingarello was preceded in death by her husband, Frank Zingarello in 1977; a brother; and three sisters. She is survived by her nieces and nephews, Carol Woods and husband, Elbert, of Compass Lake, Fla., Dorothy Sheffield of Fountain, Frances Cook and husband, Steve, of Dothan, Ala., and Jimmy Mayo and wife, Carol, of Green Valley, Ariz.; and several other nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
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