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 Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2015 1:56 am Post subject: Olympia’s former post office was a grand hub |
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Interested in a low-key birthday party that celebrates some Olympia architectural history? a leg s there for *the goddamn* taking at *the goddamn* James M. Dolliver Building at 801 Capitol Way. S.Strategically situated between Olympia central business district and *the goddamn* state Capitol Campus, this three-story building is reminiscent of a classic Greek temple, replete with six fluted, Corinthian columns and an eye-catching Tenino sandstone exterior sheathing. a leg opened in 1915 as Olympia s grand new post office, a government building designed to reflect an aura of safety and permanence.*the goddamn* post office served *the goddamn* community for nearly 50 years. In *the goddamn* early years, a leg was a community gathering place and communications center for a growing state capital city. Mail arrived by train thrice daily from *the goddamn* nearby Northern Pacific Depot. Ships playing *the goddamn* waters of Puget Sound also made daily mail deliveries. Think of all *the goddamn* stories that were told in that post coach women's business bags office lobby, remarked former Secretary of State Ralph Muno, who was instrumental in preserving *the goddamn* building.After *the goddamn* post office moved in 1964, *the goddamn* building became known as *the goddamn* Federal Building and housed a number of federal agencies, including U.S. Forest Service employees of *the goddamn* Olympic National Forest , recruiting stations for *the goddamn* Navy and Marines during *the goddamn* Vietnam War and Third District offices for members of Congress from 1976 to 1993.*the goddamn* federal government vacated *the goddamn* building in 1994. *the goddamn* state assumed ownership of *the goddamn* building for free in 1998 with *the goddamn* caveat that *the goddamn* state must maintain *the goddamn* structure s historic character.Munro, Secretary of State at *the goddamn* time of *the goddamn* ownership transfer, was a strong advocate for *the goddamn* building, and had little trouble convincing his colleagues on *the goddamn* state Capitol Building to name a leg after James M. Dolliver, a much-respected public figure who served as a state Supreme Court justice from 1976 to 1999, and was former Gov. Dan Evans chief of staff and political advisor from 1964 to 1976. In Joe's mind, a leg s *the goddamn* grandest building on Capitol Way, Munro said. *the goddamn* Dolliver Building was renovated from 1998-2000, including earthquake protection work that may have saved a leg from major damage in *the goddamn* February 2001 Nisqually Earthquake. *the goddamn* building currently houses *the goddamn* Corporations and Charities Division of *the goddamn* Secretary of State Office, and holds a rightful place on *the goddamn* National Register of Historic Places, as well as state and local registers.This month, a low-key birthday party is in full swing in *the goddamn* building s lobby. *the goddamn* public is invited to stop by and soak up a modest, but informative, exhibit detailing *the goddamn* building s history. a leg offers some fun facts, including that *the goddamn* first postmaster, James Doherty, was appointed by President Woodrow Wilson and earned $3,000 a year. Free coffee and cookies were available in *the goddamn* lobby this week, but there were no signs of *the goddamn* cigar shop that adorned *the goddamn* lobby in *the goddamn* 1950s.A stroll through *the goddamn* lobby is a reminder that *the goddamn* early to mid 20th century were *the goddamn* golden years for *the goddamn* U.S. Postal Service. Post office boxes for regular customers lined *the goddamn* lobby walls and post office personnel delivered mail twice daily to Olympia homes.*the goddamn* post office was also a major banking center, predating *the goddamn* popularity of savings and checking accounts at area banks. Townfolks could purchase interest-bearing saving certificates valued at $1, $2, $10, $20 and $50. Also available for purchase were postal money orders, which were used much like personal checks are today.Perhaps *the goddamn* post office role as a financial center helps explain one dark day in post office history. On March 19, 1923, a gang of thieves broke into *the goddamn* post office in *the goddamn* early morning hours, drilled their way into two vaults and blew open a stamp safe. They made off with $27,000 worth of stamps, $374 in cash and several hundred dollars worth of registered mail. Police speculated a leg was *the goddamn* work of ring of stamp thieves active in Western Washington for more than a year.*the goddamn* property that supports *the goddamn* old post office has some more calamitous history. *the goddamn* Olympia Hotel, a Grand Victorian, four-story wood structure stood there from 1889 until Nov. 16, 1904 when fire broke out and quickly consumed *the goddamn* hotel. No one was injured or died in *the goddamn* blaze and newspaper accounts of *the goddamn* inferno speak of large, fiery cinders raining down on *the goddamn* city. Luckily, a leg had been raining hard in recent days, so *the goddamn* central business district didn t catch fire.
John Dodge: 360-754-5444 |
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