Small towns like Wilton appear to work seamlessly. Barring power outages, downed telephone lines or satellite malfunctions, most of the services making daily life as easy as possible flow to our homes without many glitches.

Some of those services have changed over time as technology advances. One building standing witness to some of these changes is Wilton Center’s Red House -- currently the meeting hall for the Unitarian Church. This building was originally known as The Brick Store. It served many needs of the Wilton Center community, and was the seat of all town social and business activities when it was first constructed in the 1700s.

The first mail routes to Wilton were established in 1788 with stages and postal carriers on horseback carrying pouches of mail. In 1816, Wilton’s first post office was set up inside The Brick Store.

By 1900, after the town center and post office had moved downhill to be closer to the Souhegan River and railroad, mail delivery was turned over to a few rural mail carriers who traveled by horse-drawn cart. They were a vital part of the system needed to keep Wilton working seamlessly. The names of those original rural postal carriers were known to nearly everyone in town. That is rarely the case today, but at least one letter carrier is trying to change that. Let me explain.

Like many people in town, I recognized the vehicle whose driver delivers the mail to our rural mailboxes, but had rarely seen, much less spoken with him and certainly didn’t know his name -- until recently.

Eighteen months ago we moved from one house to another four doors away, intending to age in place in a house much easier to manage than the “house-of-many-steps” we had happily occupied for 38 years. This meant a few habits also changed. Soon after moving, I was near our mailbox at the same time the postal truck arrived.

That was when I finally met the person who had been delivering our mail for nearly five years, Jarron Dunnick. Past patterns hadn’t allow me to meet him. Now I look forward to morning greetings at the mailbox or at least a wave when passing on the road.

After we finally met, I realized that contrary to the historic precedent set in 1900, I had been one of many in Wilton who had no idea who delivered our mail. I felt it was time to open a window into the world of one of the services we often take for granted – that of Wilton’s rural mail carriers.

When we met a few days ago, my first question was, “How did you end up as a mail carrier?” Jarron’s answer was somewhat unexpected.

“I was working at a business waterproofing basements when I noticed our postmaster was delivering the mail. I asked him why he was doing this job and he replied, ‘Every post office needs help. You should apply,’” he said. “I thought about it and decided to give it a try. I started in Antrim, but soon after was able to transfer to Wilton. I discovered that I love this job. It’s perfect for me. ”

Of course, I then had to ask him what makes it a perfect job. What I learned taught me a lot about Jarron and the way he wants to make a difference in the Wilton community he serves. He immediately replied, “I think of everyone on my route as an extension of friends, family and neighbors. I really embrace the idea of getting to know the people on the route. I even know the names of many of the kids and dogs I regularly see. Many customers meet me at their mailbox to talk since I usually arrive at the same time each day.”

He continued, “I see myself as the face of the post office. I feel I’m a public relations bridge between the post office and the community of Wilton. When I know there’s a new family moving into a house on my route, I make it a point to try to meet them and introduce myself.”

It also helps to have met customers when there’s a package too large for the mailbox. Meeting homeowners means he’ll have a better idea where to place a package if no one’s home. Sometime those houses are a long distance up a road, but Jarron said, “I take pride in what I do even though it may take a little extra time to do it right. Sometimes, if I know a person’s routine and realize they are unable to walk to their mailbox due to an illness or surgery, I’ll take the mail to their front door.”

He continued, “Last holiday season we had Dec. 24 off, but I decided to go in anyway. When asked why, I explained that last-minute presents or needed medications may be in the mail and I didn’t want anyone to be disappointed. I was happy to do it. It just felt right.”

He went on to explain, “I love what I do and it’s rewarding. Every day is different. It’s the randomness that makes it interesting.”

Something that changes every day is the variety of wildlife he sees along his route. He has seen a mother bear and her cubs lounging on the porch of one house he stops at nearly every day. Another time he found a dirty, very hungry, stray yet tagged dog that he took to the Wilton Police Station after treating it to part of his lunch.

But there is one incident he’ll never forget. He regularly passes an old Model T that’s always parked along one portion of his route. Usually he drives slowly by while admiring the car. But this day, Jarron did a double-take. Inside, a bobcat was sitting upright in the wheel well of that Model T.

I would call that “random, exciting and interesting” all in one incident. It’s no wonder he loves his job.

It’s good to know that Wilton’s rural mail deliveries will continue seamlessly and not be taken for granted as long as they are in the hands of people like Jarron. And maybe knowing the name and face of your postal carrier will once again be just as common an occurrence as it was in 1900.