Happy 100th Birthday To Marion Post Office, June 2018

 Marion Post Office (on the right) from 1905 until 1918 when the new one was built and finished. 

In 1912 an article in The Crittenden Press tells the public that the present Marion Post Office on East Carlisle Street that the once capable building had become too small and was cramped for space with the immense volume of business that passes through it each day.   

Recently a petition was presented to Congressman Ollie M. James asking him to present a bill in Congress before he steps up higher, asking the government to build a federal building here. Mr. James will do so and assured his petitioner that he would leave no stone unturned to accomplish the wishes of his home city.

Although it took several years, a notice in 1917 was sent from Senator Ollie M. James to Mr. S. M. Jenkins, that bids for the construction of Marion’s new federal building would be opened on March 15, 1917. 

Thank to Crittenden County's own Senator Ollie M. James, Marion was to have her new Post Office building at last. The location was chosen, when was not too far from the old building, on the corner of Carlisle and College Street across from the Marion Graded School.

 In July of 1917 construction was well underway with the foundation in place. The building was completed in June of 1918 and was ready to open for business. 

Recently Postmaster, Rhonda Hunt gave me a tour of the post office.  In the basement were blueprints from when the building was being constructed in 1917-1918.  They were still in good condition.  She plans to have them organized and placed on a table.

Postmaster Hunt is only the second woman to ever  hold this Marion Postmaster position.  The first was Barbara Centers Gard from Sept. 1980-April 1983.  Through the years there have been several women Officer-In-Charge, but not Postmaster.