The times., 1901-06-16
CHANGES were \ FREQUENT
Controversies Over the Location of
the City PostOf1ice.
Moved Many Times Prior TO It's Per-
manent Establishment on PennsyI-
vania Avenue The Purchase OF
BIOdgett's HoteI-The Fire of 1875.

bIouSetts HOtel-1he Fire of 1885.
If, as the saying is. three moves are
as bad as a fire. the Washington City
Postoffice has suffered evils commensur-
ate with confiagration many times over.
y gentleman BY the name of johnson
was the first to occupy the distinguished
position Of postmaster of Washington,
and he kept his office in his own resi-
dence on Pennsylvania Avenue, just west
of Seventeenth Street. Mr. johnson was
succeeded on January I. 1926. by ChristO-
pher Richmond, who, in his turn, was
succeeded in October of the same year
by Lund Washington, under whose
regime the Office was given its first
change of quarters. being then removed
to New Jersey Avenue.
On the 1st Of April, 17g9, Mr.. Washing
tons duties were entrusted to Thomas
Monroe. who executed them faithfully
and continuously until April 90 1929 Early
in Mr. Monroe's term the PostofIice was
removed to the West Executive Building,
west OF the White House This situation
was occupied but a short time, and a
room was rented still farther to the
westward on Pennsylvania Avenue. The
changes in the location of the Office COM
menced TO disconcert the citizens OF
wrote as follows: Indeed, the POST
office officials generally of that day, like
their successors, could not be convinced
that the centre of the city was to be
found anywhere but in one end Of II,
and il was apprehended by many that
our POStOttice would be located in George
town, by way of promoting the pubAc
good of the citizens of WashingtOn-f IN
fact the removals at this period Of the
institutions history were 50 numerous
IL eHs raraW
TO trace them. 1t may be gathered, how
ever. that the office was for time IN
building on the north side OF street,
between Fourteenth and Fifteenth
Streets, and still later, square tarther
away 10 the east.
At last the question of definitely deter
mining the location OF the office came De
fore Congress and il was decided by that
body To purchase Blodeetts 5 Tavern, 9TH
erwise known as the Great Hotel, Tor
the use of the Postal Department. ThiS
hotel was situated on the site or the
building which was the home or tne Gen-
eraI POStOffice until its removal TO its
present location on PennSy IValld Avenue
The price paid by the Government Tor
BlOdgetts Hotel was $1,000 and in lSlZ
the General PoStOttice was established in
that building. Another structure was
erected at the east end of the hotel ior
the accommodation of the City POstof-
fice. which remained here until both
buildings were destroyed by fire in lS3o.
on April % 1879. Or. William Jones was
appointed 70 succeed 5ir- Monroe as Clty
Postmaster. II was during the former
incumbenCy that the fire occurred. and
after that disaster the once was removed
to the lower part of Mr. SeaVer 5 brick
house on Seventh Street. near the site
of the National IuJelligencer newspaper
office at Seventh and Streets Ii was
afterWard moved 10 Masonic Hall. where
il remained until 1859, in which year Dr.
nell who proposed removing it westward
The people in the eastern portion of the
city rebelled against this proposition, urg-
ing that the tax on postage was quite
heavy enough, without their being COM
PEELED to submit to additional burdens in
having to bring into requisition the penny
post. Ut should be remembered that
there were then no letter carriers. and
persons had to call in person at the Post
office for their mail)
IL was argued on the other hand that
the proposed removal would greatly ac-
commodate the President and heads Of
departments. The National Intelligence
er" took the side of the people. ard
argued that the location of the PostohIce
was preferable TO the proposed one, by
about the ratio Of 800 to So NotwithsJand-
ing this mathematical solution of the mat
ter the PostOfice held to what had, by
this time. become an established prece-
dent, and again moved, this time 10 tho
basement OF CarusiS saloon, on Eleventh
Street below Pennsylvania Avenue
From this time on. the postal authorities
continued to manifest strongly the no
madic spirit in regard to constant chdnse
of locality of the office, ana successive
removals were made TO the corner OF
I0uisiaua Avenue and Four-and-a-half
Street, opposite the City Han, TO Seventh
Street between r and + street, &c r
Street opposite the Patent Office. TO Sea-
ton Building. on Louisiana Avenue. where
IL remained until 1892. Then, after its
temporary stay on q Street. il Was
finally located in its present magnificent
quarters.
The postmasters since Mr.. Gunncll have
been as follows: Charles X. Gardner VIII
liam a Bradley, James G, Berrctt. Dr.
William Jones. Lewis Clephane. Sayles
]. Bowen. Col c. NJ. Alexander, James
NJ Edmuuds, Daniel 3. Anger Thomas
L. TuiIoeh. u. 5. Parker. r b. Conger,
John W Ross. Henry Sherwood, James
p Wrlet. and Tohn Merritt, the presenr
incumbent