Outtakes - The Smallest Towns

Behind police chief Billy Jenkins is a monument erected to Bartholemew Gosnold, who came in 1602 but stayed only 22 days. "First summer folks," sniffed one town member. Ellen Veeder (right) is the island's post mistress.

Ellen Veeder hasn't had a vacation in six years: "Folks here take their mail pretty seriously." Ellen is postmistress for Gosnold, a town that is technically stretched out along the 133 Elizabeth Islands, which form a fringe along the nape of Buzzards Bay.

Last year, of the 351 cities and towns in Massachusetts, Gosnold was rated the "financially strongest." And it's generally a quiet place. Billy Jenkins hasn't made an arrest in the three years he's been chief of police. "The town supplied me with a badge, handcuffs, and a nightstick. I don't think I'll get much mileage out of that nightstick."

Back in the post office there is a flurry of activity. Ellen Veeder is busy. The postmistress has no metering machine, so every package sent through is tediously but quickly affixed with stamps. Ellen wants to make the afternoon ferry. Remarkably in the 14 years that Ellen has served, she has never run dry -- either with running commentary or whatever it is that makes those stamps stick.

One-room-school teacher Theresa Cronin enjoys recess with
her only students, two brothers.

The Smallest Towns: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont,
Connecticut, Rhode Island, or Massachusetts.