Chariton's graceful old post office isn't looking its best these days --- but that's a good thing. Finally, contractors have moved in to strip away a century of accumulated paint, replace damaged elements of the woodwork and then apply fresh coats of sparkling white. I'll post a photo showing its current status at the end.
This photograph was taken on Aug. 21, 1921. The building really hasn't changed that much.
I'm thinking that once the fresh paint has been applied, someone should order a birthday cake. The post office moved from rented quarters in the Kubitschek Block on the southwest corner of the square to the new federal building on Sunday, June 23, 1918. So there's a centennial involved in this equation.
Chariton's first post office was located in the first postmaster's log cabin on the northeast corner of the square back in 1850. For the next 68 years it roamed from rented building to rented building.
The drive for a new federal building to house the post office began soon after the turn of the 20th Century and was finally rewarded on Feb. 20, 1917, when Congress approved an appropriation of $59,200 to supplement $5,000 previously appropriated and launch the project.
The office of the U.S. Treasury Department's supervising architect, James A. Wetmore, advertised for bids on March 1, 1917, and on during mid-April the contract went to Charles Weitz & Sons, Des Moines. Construction continued for more than a year and we can track the process in part at least thanks to this series of 10 photographs from the Lucas County Historical Society collection.
Here's how the vacant lot at the intersection of South Grand Street and Linden Avenue looked before construction began. The view is northwest from midway along the block of Linden south of the site. Note the courthouse tower in the distance. The brick building in the middle is the Dewey Bock, which faces the square and currently houses a furniture store after serving for many years as home of Chariton Floral.
Sanborn fire insurance maps indicate that before the lot was cleared a small house was located here, with stables at the back of the lot adjacent to Linden Avenue.
Sanborn fire insurance maps indicate that before the lot was cleared a small house was located here, with stables at the back of the lot adjacent to Linden Avenue.
Here's the view of the lot looking northeast from the intersection of South Grand and Linden. Today, the post office occupies an entire quarter block. When built, however, it shared that quarter block with the small frame building to the left, a doctor's office fronting on South Grand with a north wall abutting the alley. It remained in place for some years after the new post office was complete.
By June 1, 1917, basement excavation was moving ahead. This is a view to the northeast. Hiding behind the trees is the old Glenn-Gasser House, now replaced by a new apartment complex that parallels the alley, facing a parking lot.
Here's another June 1 photo, this one looking southwest toward First Baptist Church and its parsonage located where the current First Baptist now stands. The second floor and roof of the Henry Kubitshek House, which still stands, is at left.
By July 1, the basement walls were going up. The view here is toward the northwest with the courthouse tower in the distance.
A year later, work on the interior was moving along. This photograph of the working area of the post office "behind the counter" is dated March 1, 1918.
And here's the view a month later, on April 1, after work on the cabinetry has progressed. There are no lobby photographs, but it really hasn't changed that much. Just take a good look around next time you stop at the post office.
Here's the view from the southeast, looking at the back of the building on May 1, 1918.
And here's the front, also taken on May 1. We don't know who the architect was and most likely never will. The U.S. Treasury Department's supervising architect, James A. Wetmore at the time, was not an architect himself, but supervised architects, some on staff and others working on contract for the department.
An austerity drive had been imposed on the office during 1913, so plans for smaller federal buildings like the Chariton Post Office often were used multiple times or merely modified to fit changing circumstances. Big-name architects often were retained, but for the grand marble and stone federal buildings designed for big cities.
Finally, here's a photo of the post office as it looked on Tuesday, awaiting those fresh coats of paint.
Here's another June 1 photo, this one looking southwest toward First Baptist Church and its parsonage located where the current First Baptist now stands. The second floor and roof of the Henry Kubitshek House, which still stands, is at left.
By July 1, the basement walls were going up. The view here is toward the northwest with the courthouse tower in the distance.
A year later, work on the interior was moving along. This photograph of the working area of the post office "behind the counter" is dated March 1, 1918.
And here's the view a month later, on April 1, after work on the cabinetry has progressed. There are no lobby photographs, but it really hasn't changed that much. Just take a good look around next time you stop at the post office.
Here's the view from the southeast, looking at the back of the building on May 1, 1918.
And here's the front, also taken on May 1. We don't know who the architect was and most likely never will. The U.S. Treasury Department's supervising architect, James A. Wetmore at the time, was not an architect himself, but supervised architects, some on staff and others working on contract for the department.
An austerity drive had been imposed on the office during 1913, so plans for smaller federal buildings like the Chariton Post Office often were used multiple times or merely modified to fit changing circumstances. Big-name architects often were retained, but for the grand marble and stone federal buildings designed for big cities.
Finally, here's a photo of the post office as it looked on Tuesday, awaiting those fresh coats of paint.
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