The Greene County Historical Society is kicking off its monthly program with a Jefferson mainstay.

This Friday the historical society will host special guest speaker Denise O’Brien Van who will present the 85-year history of the Jefferson Post Office. O’Brien Van is a Jefferson native who also has personal ties to the post office that first opened on March 15, 1937. Her parents, Clem and Virgina O’Brien were introduced by the post office’s first postmaster, Lilly Gibbons. Clem also worked at the post office, first as a city carrier and then as a rural carrier.

The free program takes place at 12:45pm on Friday at the First Presbyterian Church in Jefferson. Lunch will be served prior to the program at noon for $10 for non-historical society members. Contact Program Director Margaret Hamilton at 515-386-4408. A list of the community contacts for historical society members to reserve a meal can be found below.

Dawn Rudolph, Scranton, 515-370-5605

Janice Gilley, Grand Junction, 515-738-2642

Marilynn Hoskinson, Jefferson, 515-386-3490

Virginia Carlson, Paton, 515-386-2401

Nancy Wessling, Churdan, 515-389-3325

Stephen &Bette Molle, Cooper, 515-386-3822

Mary Weaver, Rippey, 515-360-8046