The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1914-11-30
NEW POSTOFF|CE
WILL BE OPENED
ON TUESDAY
Postmaster and Force Will Move
During the Night
STRUCTURE is FULLY EQUIPPED
Building is Not Only Commodious
But Is Beautiful in Design and
Arrangement

Tonight Postmaster Emory 5. Har-
ris, Assistant Postmaster II. +. Rob-
inson, the clerks and the carriers
will abandon their cramped quarters
at the corner of Main and South
streets and move to the new federal
building at the corner of South and
Union streets, one block south on
South street.
Other than their persons, the books
| and the records there will not be
much to move as the new building
has been QUILTED with a complete
and modern equipment for the handl-
ing OF mail and all OF the furniture
will be new
| II can be truthfully said that the
| building is one of the most beautiful
| structures of its kind in the country.
| Because of the fact that the reception
| and transmission OF mail is the only
| business transacted by the United
| States government at Bennington
building Of only one story was requir-
ed Such condition of affairs en-
ablcd the department at Washington
| to select plans for Roman-Doric
structure with mezzanine. The I'M
posing front of the building with its
calonade of futed marble columns
gives an air Of stability without at
all detracting from the beauty of the
general scheme
The building, which cost about
| SIS zoe. il built OF Vermont marble.
The selection OF the material was
| concession to state pride, 'inasmuch
as the work could have been done in
other material at a somewhat lessen
ed cost. The elapsed time between
the introduction Of the measure call
ing for the appropriation and the com
pletion OF the building has been short
er than in many cases.
Undoubtedly the elimination OF
| some OF the difficulties that have
been experienced in other communi.
ties in securing needed public build
lngs was due to the efforts OF for
| mer Postmaster Collins NJ. Graves.
| Mr. Graves was close friend of the
| late Congressman ID. j. Foster
through whom the original approp-ia-
ton was secured The former post.
master labored diligently and I'M
ceasngly in urging the necessary leg
| islation and in this he was assisted by
the present congressman, Franl, t..
| Greene
The building. dimensions 81 by 90
feet, is hgeproof throughout, the floor
being of reinforced concrete laid be
| tween steel beams.
The private Office of the postmast-
er is finished in mahogany and the
furniture matches the finish. The
| workroom Is finished in hard pine
There is safe in the postmaster's
Office and vault with interior safe
and strong box in the money order
department.
The lobby is finished in mahogany
and ornamental plaster and the en-
larged space and equipment will pro-
vide much relief to the public from
the cramped quarters that have here
tofore been available.
Tho new building. which will be
| opcn for business Tuesday morning.
is the successo. of a corner in the OF.
ice OF the Vermont Gazette" al Old
Bennington where was established
the first postofiice in the state Of Yer
mont. In 1884 Anthony Haswell. the
Gazette publisher. was appointed
postmaster general of the state Of
Vermont which at that time had not
been admitted TO the union. BY Gov.
Thomas Chiitcnden The postmas-
ter general was authorized to estab-
lish five postofhces. az Bennington.
Braitleboro. Windsor Rutland and
Newbu ". Post riders we're paid
three pence a mile bctween Benning-
ton and Brattleboro and two pence a
mile on the other routes The Ben.
nington town postofice remained at
Old Bennington until ls47 when the
building used for the purpose vas
moved to this village and located al
the corner Of Main and South streets.
the present site. The establishment
Ct n postofiicc in this village vas the
end OF a long controversy between
the two villages The building was
moved from the upper 20 the lower
village and hauled back again more
than once. being Transported on bic
/ Sled lranrnl Ir many nair. OF rnnn