of
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| History of Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume I, 1911, pages 291-293
THE FIRST POSTMASTER. It was not until three years after Bloomington was laid out that a postmaster was appointed--a Mr. Stowell, who left these parts before the arrival of his commission. The honor of being the first postmaster then reverted to Edward E. Fay, who died in 1840 and was succeeded in office by his brother, Pliny Fay. He served all during the Harrison and Tyler administrations. When James Knox Polk was elected, George Earll took charge of the office at this place. He kept the mail in a small building that stood on the site of old Tremont Hall. Before the expiration of his term Mr. Earll died and his daughter Lucy became his successor. General Zachary Taylor was inaugurated president of the United States in 1849 and that year Nathan L. Stout was made postmaster of Muscatine. Mr. Stout at that time was editor of the Bloomington Herald. He kept the postoffice in a new frame building that stood on the site of the old A. M. Winn establishment. Mr. Stout served less than a year, giving way to Richard Cadle, who moved the office to the lower room of the Freeman block on Second street and was the incumbent during the Taylor administration. Henry Reece was appointed postmaster under President Pierce in 1853. He removed the office from Second street to the Boston House on Iowa avenue. Owing to the active part he took in political affairs of the day he was removed from his office after a service of three years and John A. McCormick succeeded him. Mr. McCormick established the office on the east end of Second street. Robert Williams was appointed by President Buchanan in 1860 but in 1861 Abraham Lincoln having been elected president, John Mahin took the office. Under his administration the citizens of Muscatine received their mail in a building on Iowa avenue. R. W. H. Brent was appointed postmaster in 1869 under the Grant administration and the postoffice was removed to the Butler block on Iowa avenue. John Mahin was reappointed in 1873 and he fitted up an office on Second street, between Iowa avenue and Chestnut street, more spacious than any known to the citizens before that time, in what was then known as the Stein building. His successor was Captain Ben Beach, in 1878. Captain Beach was succeeded by J. J. Russell, who removed the office to the Fitzgerald building. His successors were John Mahin and G. W. Van Horne. The latter died before the expiration of his term and was succeeded by his wife. For six years after Mrs. Van Horne's term expired, W. L. Roach was the incumbent. After him came W. D. Burke, who served a full term and was followed by Dr. R. S. McNutt, the president postmaster.
Early in the year 1909 one of the finest federal buildings was completed and occupied. It stands on the northeast corner of Iowa avenue and Fourth street, and the contract price of its construction was $65,232. The site of the new postoffice is a very desirable one. It is but a block from the heart of the business center of the city and is very convenient for the residents. The main body of the structure is of finest white Bedford stone, with trimmings, the windows and corners, in cut stone. The main entrance faces on Iowa avenue, while there is a side entrance on Fourth street, near the Iowa avenue corner. Entrances for employes are at the rear of the building which faces the east. The building measures 100x50 feet and stands almost flush with the two streets. At the rear is a macadamized entrance for teams, which separates the building from a beautiful grass plot, 25x30 feet in width.
The building has a magnificent exterior view and the furniture and finishing of the interior is in keeping with buildings of that character in all of the large cities of the country. It stands out prominently as a strong feature in beautiful building effects of the city and is an object of pride to every inhabitant in the place. With the site and the appurtenances the new postoffice building cost about $125,000.
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