About this time in May, 106 years ago, construction commenced on Chariton's new post office at the intersection of South Grand and Linden. The Leader of May 17. 1917, reported it this way:
"E. L. Chubbs arrived from Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, last week, and has begun the preliminary work for the erection of the federal post office building in Chariton. He is supervisor of construction for the Charles Weitz Sons, of Des Moines, who have the contract, and will remain on the grounds until the building is completed. He is a young man and has had charge of the construction of several government buildings similar of late. The tool house is now being erected and the grounds prepared, excavating done, etc."
The bit of trivia built into this reminder of that anniversary is the fact that the building, as designed, was to be faced in conventional red brick. But a community effort that included a petition drive caused a change in plan, as reported in The Herald-Patriot, also of May 17:
"Through the efforts of the Chariton Commercial Club, the architects of the new post office building have agreed to change the smooth red brick, which was to have been used in the construction of the building, to rough-faced gray brick, which is more expensive --- but is also much more satisfactory."
Although the wood trim on the post office no longer holds paint especially well, and causes those responsible for maintaining the building occasional fits, that brick has proved to be a sound investment and the post office still looks much as it did when first occupied on June 24, 1918.
Back in 2018, centennial year of its opening, I posted here a series of 10 photographs detailing its construction. If you're interested, go take a look at "Centennial: The Chariton Post Office's baby pictures."
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