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 Post Office Location Settled - Lewistown, MT Posted by:  T0SHEA
N 47° 03.950 W 109° 25.525
12T E 619560 N 5213682
Fully completed in early 1909, this sandstone faced building provided Lewistown with its third post office location.
Waymark Code: WMXT2G
Location: Montana, United States
Date Posted: 02/22/2018
Views: 0
Lewistown's first post office, not counting the log Reed's Fort post office, established in 1881, was established about 1887, the second in 1903 and this one in 1909. The post office would remain here until again moving on June 28, 1914.
The building was one of three built by the Brooks Brothers, side by side along Main Street. For many years the building housed "The Hub", a clothing store operated by Joe Alweis, an early resident of Lewistown and early land owner. The sign for "Ullr's" still hangs from the face of the building, indicating that it would have been a more recent tenant of the building.
This news article, from the Fergus County Democrat of January 26, 1909, tells us that the post office was soon to move into its new home in the spanking new Brooks Brothers building.
POST OFFICE LOCATION SETTLED
Fergus County Democrat January 26, 1909 Page 1
Very soon after Feb. 1, the local post office will be doing business at the new stand in the Brooks Bros. building, on Main street, between Second and Third avenues. Postmaster Pfaus received a telegram last Thursday from the department at Washington, instructing him to move into the new quarters as soon as possible. The work of finishing the interior is now nearly completed and the actual moving will take but a short time. The Brooks building is of stone, with a glass front and the lighting is assisted by two large skylights. The lobby extends nearly the length of the building, the various windows and the boxes being conveniently placed along the partition. This partition turns across the room, facing the entrance and there will be located two carriers' windows.
The postmaster's office will be in front and the distributing room and a carriers room toward the rear. There is an abundance of room, both for the public and the office force. A slot for outgoing mail and one for local mail will enable the force to distribute rapidly local or drop letters, which are now only collected for that purpose with the outgoing mail. This means a much more prompt delivery of city letters.
Hitch Causes No Delay
The lease on the Brooks building was made some months ago but there was such a strong sentiment at the time in favor of a location on Fourth avenue, the Masonic temple being generally considered as an ideal place for the office, that the lease was rescinded and until last week the whole matter was 'up in the air' The facts bearing on the matter were presented to the department and while it was all in abeyance, Brooks Bros. kept right on with the work of preparing the building for the post- office, so that there was no real delay.
From the Fergus County Democrat
THE HUB
Lewistown’s population tripled between 1900 and 1910 and the booming building trade attracted stonemasons and craftsmen, many of them Croatian immigrants, who settled here. The upper façade of this 1908 one-story commercial building, revealed during restoration in 1990, exemplifies the fine stonework of these Old World artisans. Also uncovered was the original sign for The Hub clothing store, located here for many years, and the motto (which is repeated on the sidewalk) of proprietor Joe Alweis. A respected early day resident and local property owner, Alweis is fondly remembered by “old timers” for his big-hearted generosity during the hard times of drought and depression. If a customer couldn’t afford clothing, he had to “just pay the freight.”
From the NRHP plaque at the building
Type of publication: Newspaper
When was the article reported?: 01/26/1909
Publication: Fergus County Democrat
Article Url: [Web Link]
Is Registration Required?: no
How widespread was the article reported?: local
News Category: Business/Finance
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