In the western part of the Isle of Eysturoy lays the village of Fuglafjørdur. With its 1,450 inhabitants, Fuglafjørdur is one of the most populated among the Faeroes. Naturally, as it happens for almost the entire archipelago, the major part of the population works in the field of fishing, and many in the food business of Havsbrún.

The Fuglafjørdur Post Office was opened on July 1, 1903. The first manager of the office was Tummas Juul Petersen, who was also responsible for the public order in Eysturoy. In 1910, Tummas Juul Petersen moved to Klaksvík and, according to the tradition of Faeroese Post Offices, he was substituted by a relative, his brother Hans Jacob Petersen.

Following the same rule, in 1926, Hans Jacob’s daughter, Alma Rustin, succeeded in the responsibility for the Post Office, and when she retired, on October 31, 1975, she was substituted by her daughter, Margretha Rustin Johanssen, until November 30, 1994. Fuglafjørdur Post Office has therefore been managed by the same family for 91 years!

Until 1930, the Post Office was located within the residence of the Public Order Officer. The Office was then moved at Alma Rustin’s aunt’s and, from 1932 until 1975, in special rooms at Alma’s and Paul Rustin’s place. Later, also to meet the growing demand of space, the offices were moved, on November 1, 1975, to the present headquarter.

Alma’s father, Hans Jacob Petersen, used two boats to transport mail, materials and people. The boats were called “Alma” and “Ragnhild”, after his daughters. “Ragnhild” sailed from Fuglafjørdur northwards, going through the wharves of  Hellur, Oyndarfjørður, Elduvík, Funningur and Gjógv. “Alma” linked Fuglafjørdur and Klaksvík, also stopping at Leirvík during the trip. The maritime link terminated with the end of the war; one of the two boats had been build with war purposes, while the other had been bought in Norway in 1930.

After having attended the primary and secondary school in Tórshavn, Alma Rustin, aged fourteen, began to help her father in the Post Office. On May 1, 1926, Alma obtained full responsibility over the office of Fuglafjørdur.

Alma retired on October 31, 1975, after sixty-one years of activity and almost fifty of management in the postal service.

From November 1, 1994, the manager of the office is Sigrun Jacobsen.

www.fuglakomm.fo