The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1910-12-23

was located i'm the big silk tile of
DIR. Robert Holmes. This gentleman
II might be remarked In passing was
Marion's first postmaster. He received
for distribution about five letters a
day and he carried these in his silk
tile, delivering the letters as he went
about the hamlet. IT was in the
years 1888 that DIR. Holmes was post
master. There were no stamps in
those days. Mail was forwarded at
so much an ounce and the recipient
paid the postage.
Most of Marion Is familiar with
the exterior view of the building with
its broad north entrance, its granite
base and retaining walls and the eX-
panse of Bedford limestone and red
tiled roof. The exterior view Is pleas
ing to the eye, even In dreary winter,
but when summer comes and the spa
cious property on which the building
stands is beautifed by gardeners, the
aspect will be much prettler.
Going in by mounting the broad
stair approach at the north, one en-
ters through revolving doors which
permit Of ingress and egress of crowds
| at the same time. The entrance, done
| in massive waxed oak, is an imposing
one. Once in the lobby the visitor
| finds himself directly opposite the
| broad general delivery window which
flor the sake of economy will be used for
| the sale of stamps as well. To the right
| the lobby runs along the front OF
the building and about half way
back on the west side. To the left
| II runs to the east END OF the build
ing. The various departments are
| here taken care of. There is a parti-
| ton at the east end with spacious
room, for the registry and money or
| der business To the west of the en-
trance are the lock boxes which con-
tinue around to the end of the lobby.
| All of these boxes are operated by
key, the combination style haviGa
been discarded because of the trouble
experienced In the present Location
Many of the boxes have already been
assigned to postofiice patrons. Thert
are $40 boxes and box renters will
| be able TO get their mail at all hours
as the building will never close.
| The woodwork In the lobby and In
fact9 throughout the whole building
Is oak. and most of II is quartered
The ceiling Is very high and win
dows admit light generously. The floor
| Is marble terrazZo.
Going on q tour of inspection one
passes from the lobby to the office
of the postmaster at the southwest
corner. This is a good sized room, with
elegant furnishings. The furniture is
| waxed oak. A private lavatory ad'
| Joins.
| From the Postmaster's Office the
visitor is ushered into the main work
room of the building. This room Is
go by 40 feet. giving 2,400 square
feet of floor space for handling Ma
rion's incoming and outgoing mail.
The equipment of the room Is mod
ern in every way The various cabinet:
and desks are so arranged as to ia
ciliate the work at hand. The in
coming mail is handled in one place
and in another the outgoing. The rea
door wayiopens onto driveway whicf
pehmits mail wagons to discharge an'
receive their mail at the door ant
permits rural carriers to tie thei
horses while they are busy insid
the building. The postofiice drivewa.
Is paved and opens onto the alley a
the rear of the building. The city ha
arranged for paving this alley.
At the east side of the building
after one passes the desks Of tn
city carriers and the stations of thos
assigned to window duty, is the OF
flee of the assistant postmaster. II
In this Office that the money orde
and registry business will be handled
At the south side of the room there
big vault, This contains two safes
one for records and the other TO
money. There is another vault wit
safe for stamps. leading off the mai
workroom and a big safe In tn
main room for stamps ready for sal
and cash. This safe has two depart
ments, one for each of the tw
clerks who will take care of tn
stamp window. In this manner eac
is chargable with his own mistakes
At present where there are severf
assistants at the stamp window, IN
postmaster himself pays the shortag
when there is any.
Toward the rear of the main roor
there is located a toilet room fc
lady employees.
Going downstairs, which Is poss