The Palatka news and advertiser., 1916-12-08
POSTOFF|CE TO Be
MOVED ON SATURDAY
New and Elegant Fireproof
Building a Model of
Convenience.

Postmaster Harry Gray is attending
the United States Court in Jackson
vile.
Chas. E. Morrill,, Jr., Superintend-
ent of Construction, U. S. Public
Buildings, who has had charge for the
government from the first, says:
Postmaster Gray is in Jackson
vile; if he gets back in time, the
building will be thrown open to the
public for inspection from to $3.50
o'clock Friday night. In case he does
not return in time there will be no
public reception" We will be at
work in here all day on Saturday,
and the office will be moved on Sat
urday night. There can be no pub
lie receiving while the men are at
work"
LATER-Mr. Gray returned last
night, therefore postoffce reception
will be held this evening from to
S:3O
Mr.. Morrell, whose home is in
Marlboro, N. Y, expects to leave Pa
latka by the Goth inst. His work will
be done.
No use The News trying TO tell you
much about the new pogtoffice build
ing. Suffice it to say that it is a
model both in beauty and lasting
qualities. 1t is convenient, roomy, ell
egant. 1t is fireproof.
The building cost, exclusive of lot
and furnishings, $48,357. Mr.. Nor
rell says that when all is in that the
building and furnishings will have
cost an even $4,000. The lot cost
$4,000.
The furnishings are the best, and
ere ideal.
Over the postmaster's private office
is an office devoted to postoffce in
spectors.
This official can step from his Of
flee into a little hole and work his
anatomy around a little corner and
come out into dark, secret passage
which skirts the entire upper floor.
This passage is painted black and
from its walls are several "louvers,"
or look-outs through which he can see
every movement of every person at
work in the office, without himself be-
ing seen.
This will be the first time in the
history of this city that we have had
a postoffce in keeping with our dig
nifty. We have rented places and
have lobbied for locations. The Of
fee has been twice on Water street,
in at least two places on Lemon
street, on Second street (in the Grill
building) and for the past 20 years
in the place now being abandoned.
There is a story connected with its
movement into this o-be-abandoned
place that is interesting.
William Patton Anderson was post
master about 1895 and '9S The Of
flee was in the Grill building on Sec
ond street. On Lemon street between
Water and Second streets were such
merchants as Loeb, Myer, Kennerly,
Walter Thomas and others. They |
saw the people going to the postof-
flee and conceived the idea that it !
would be better for them if they could
have the postoftice moved to a point
which would carry the crowds by their
stores. They Matched scheme, into
which they impressed the Thompsons.
They secured the Thompson site for a
rental of So year, bought the boxes
and furnishings and secured the re-
moval. Later, of course the rental
went up, but Dick" Kirby, who was
appointed postmaster in 1898, says
that the rent for several years was
still S. per annum "The Thomp-
son rented box that cost them 81
per quarter" said Mr.. Kirby, "and
when the box rent was due | used to
receipt the bill and hand them quar-
ter, which squared the rent for that
quarter"
The postoffce has been 20 years
in this location.
Postmasters who have served in
Palatka for the past 80 years are:
Benz. Harrison under the first Cleve-
land administration, four years; F. A.
Garrison followed and served four
years. Then came the second Cleve-
land administration and the appoint
ment of w. P. Anderson who served
four years; following came the admin
istration of Mckinley, Roosevelt and
Taft, through all of which 16 years
or four terms Mr.. Kirby was appoint
ed. His last term would have ex-
pired in May, 1914, but he resigned
in November, 1913, when the present
postmaster, Harry Gray was appoint
ed. Mr.. Gray assumed office Janu-
ary 1st, 1914.
Being young man and democratic
n mould and finish, he is liable to
stay indefinitely. Anyway he now