Lucius Beebe Memorial Library, Wakefield, Mass.

Title

Wakefield Post Office, Corner of Richardson Avenue and Main Street, circa early 1900s

Description

"Built on land once occupied by the Solon Richardson mansion, the Richardson Building was home to Wakefield's Post Office from 1902 until 1924. As was the custom during the 1800s and early 1900s, the Richardson house was moved from its site facing Main Street to another locations at the corner of Richardson Avenue and Foster Street when the family's extensive land holdings were developed in the early 1900s. Erected in 1901, and occupied in early 1902, the building was home to several stores and businesses in addition to the post office. In announcing the building, Solon Richardson said the the building would be made of brick with a frontage of 138' on Main Street and 130' in the rear. It was originally designed to accommodate seven stores on the first floor, and 17 offices on the second floor. The building was constructed so that another two or three floors could be added in the future. The 1,100' post office was located in the corner storefront at Main Street and Richardson Avenue. With the introduction of rural free delivery of the mail during the late 1890s, the post office was busy, with mail carriers added frequently. A schedule published in the newspaper in 1901 indicated when areas could expect their mail delivery and the hours of the post office; on most days the post office was open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., with Sunday hours. In addition to handling the mail, longtime Postmaster Stanley Dearborn and his staff were directed by Postmaster General Hitchcock in 1911 to establish a postal savings bank in the Wakefield Office. According to written accounts, the chief purpose of the postal savings bank was to 'keep money earner by foreigners in the country and in circulation'. It was also noted that the 'foreigners had little confidence in the banks, but repose great trust in anything directed by the government and cities and towns.' The post office outgrew the building and moved to a new facility, now the WMGLD business office, in 1924."

Image from the Wakefield Municipal Gas and Light Department annual calendar, 2011

Photo courtesy of the Wakefield Historical Society.

Contributor

Institution: Lucius Beebe Memorial Library

Wakefield Municipal Gas & Light Department (Wakefield, Mass.)

D'Onofrio, Jayne M.

Coverage

Massachusetts--Middlesex (county)--Wakefield

Main Street (Wakefield, Mass.)

Richardson Avenue (Wakefield, Mass.)

Date

1900-1903

Format

image/jpeg

Publisher

Wakefield, Mass. : Wakefield Municipal Gas & Light Department

Subject

Post office buildings

Postal service

Type

still image

Photographs

Original Format

1 picture: b & w

Extent

17 x 30 cm.