Manchester Memories Project: The Snoopy Mailbox is special to me … What is special to you?
Patriotic Snoopy welcomes guests to Manchester for fireworks. Photo credit: Melissa Yekulis.
by Melissa Yekulis
In the words of my students, the Snoopy Mailbox “is special to me!”
My relationship with the Snoopy Mailbox first began in 1986. We were making our way to my godparents’, an eternal, never-ending journey for a 6-year-old, from Chelsea to Tecumseh. This would be one of countless trips to Tecumseh throughout my life. My sister and I would always delight at the sight of Snoopy on the mailbox, knowing we were halfway to the pool at my godparents’, or halfway home. It was halfway to the joy of swimming, eating watermelon, and enjoying barbeque, then halfway home, exhausted and falling asleep after all the fun we had.
As I grew older, Snoopy became the marker of visiting Dad at work. My father worked for the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Department in the Manchester branch for a time. Snoopy let us know we were almost to Dad, as we made our way to Carr Park for a picnic lunch or to visit him for a quick hug while he was on patrol for the annual fireworks.
Imagine my joy and surprise when Snoopy became the marker for my place of work. I first came to Manchester as a “baby teacher” at Luther C. Klager Elementary School, performing my pre-teaching under the guidance of Pat Rohrer, and becoming acquainted with countless other teachers who would serve as my mentors, and later as my peers, colleagues, and friends as I graduated and later came to formally work for the district.
For 20 years now, Snoopy has been my greeter as I drive to work. Whether there is sun, rain, sleet, or snow, Snoopy has always been there to welcome me to work or send me home with a smile. While many things have changed in our community over the years, Snoopy has been our constant. Whether driving a school bus, tormenting Woodstock, or preparing for fireworks or the Chicken Broil, Snoopy has been there for all of us, young and old. Snoopy has brought joy to my life for more years than I care to count, and my heart overflows with gratitude for this constant display of childhood nostalgia.
I pour my sappy heart out to you in honor of our 10th anniversary of the Manchester Mirror. Our Klager students proudly share their love of Manchester through the summer months in their own writings. Now, we extend the same invitation to you in our community. the Mirror wants to hear from you! What in Manchester is important or special to you? For the month of July, we will be sitting at the Farmers Market on Thursday evenings. We invite you to come and share your stories with us. We will have notebooks, paper, and my computer (if it can survive the melting heat!) available to share your stories. You are welcome to write them down yourself, bring them written, or dictate them to us. If you cannot visit us on a Thursday, feel free to send us an email with your story at themanchestermirror@gmail.com with the subject “Manchester Memories Project.” Our goal is to collect your stories and publish them in the fall months to continue sharing these reflections of what makes our community unique.
When you visit our table, you are also welcome to check out our newly bound books of the last 10 years of the Mirror. Check out the amazing news this paper has produced over the years and reminisce over some of the highlights of things that have taken place in our special community.
It was a joy to hear from our youngest writers and share their stories with you this summer. I was tickled to have the opportunity to share my own special story with you. Now, I pass the baton to you in our community. We are excited to hear from all of you. Join us on Thursdays at the Farmers Market for the month of July. Step right up and tell us exactly what makes Manchester so special to you!
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