Downtown Buildings 3

POST  OFFICE

                       
1857 engraving of post office                           1st Post Office     

  The first United States Post Office and Custom House was built on the s. w. corner of 4th and Vine in 1857. By 1874 it was considered to be too small so a new Federal Building was constructed on the north side of 5th Street between Walnut and Main. It cost $5,000,000 and took 11 years to complete the 5 story building opening in 1885. It housed 27 government agencies. Eventually this structure also became to small and so in November of 1936 demolition began and a new 9 story building was dedicated on January 14, 1939. Although space was more than doubled, in my humble opinion, comparing the two buildings, the style of the newer one is what I would call neo modern yuck. Many of these images at first glance will appear to be the same but if you look closely you will see different vehicles and pedestrians.

                                           
                                                                                                                                            This card has a cachet on the back for the dedication
                                                                                                                                             of the new Post Office and is cancelled on that day.

This cover was issued for the dedication.

Scene of crowd after the departure of
the 6th Regiment for Cuba in 1898

                                       
Christmas card                                                      E. R. Monfort  

   The drawing above is of Captain Elias R. Monfort who was Cincinnati Postmaster for 16 years (1899-1915). He was a Captain in the Civil War and was severely wounded at Gettysburg. After his stint as postmaster he was elected as the Commander-In-Chief of the GAR. Monfort Heights is named after him.

GOVERNMENT  SQUARE

   You can not show the Post Office building without also showing the area in front of it. Known as Government Square it, along with Fountain Square also seen in the distance in these cards, has been the scene of all the major events that have occurred in the city over the years. 

   Although this card says Fountain Square I believe it is actually Government Square.

                   
Private Mailing Card                   Reproduction                                                                 

                
The new Post Office and Federal Building

Peck Federal Building

   The John Weld Peck Federal Building was constructed in 1964 at 550 Main Street. Named after a judge who served in the Federal Court system from 1962 to 1993 so he was obviously serving at the time the building was built. The building contains the FBI office, the Immigration Bureau, the Social Security, the General Services Administration and other Federal Agencies in the 10 story building. 

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