Federal Post Office WPA in Hobart, Indiana, Post Office




1 federal post office

1.1 beginnings
1.2 breaking ground
1.3 scandal erupts
1.4 dedication





federal post office
beginnings

according hobart index: commonwealth, local newspaper, in march 1936, government requested bids construction of new post office. although first hobart post office appeared 100 years earlier, city s first federal building. each interested applicant obtain 1 copy of drawings , specifications building, required return government. companies consistently failed submit proposals not furnished specifications. proposals publicly opened on april 15, 1936, in washington, d.c.


according specifications supplied u.s. government, new building 62 58 feet, built brick , steel, , trimmed in stone. additionally, new structure [was] erected on east side of main street between 2nd , 3rd on ground purchased killigrew estate $9,000. total of $67,000 allotted project, leaving $56,000 available after purchase of land.


on wednesday, june 24, 1936, government obtained absolute title land purchased killigrew estate, after condemnation proceedings filed in south bend federal court . term condemnation proceedings refers eminent domain, in government able take private property public use upon compensation owner. next day, joseph mellon, hobart post office postmaster, stated formal awarding of contract expected soon, meaning work start on building late july.


it not until july formal award of contract came structural engineering corporation of new york city. corporation awarded contract because estimated construction @ $46,123, lowest bid. contract required corporation start work on building within 30 days of formal award , allowed 250 days completion of project.


that same month, john w. murphy, president of structural engineering corporation of new york city, arrived in hobart complete final details of job . part of remaining details included subletting contract , buying materials. murphy explained planned buy practically materials construction work locally, hire local possible on job .


murphy kept word contracting william scharbach sr. & sons lumber company of hobart supply lumber , building materials used in construction. furthermore, murphy granted plumbing contract gary heating , plumbing , had intentions of subletting electrical, roofing, excavating, , foundation work . although excavation begin on august 17, no excavation contract had been made of august 13, have potentially delayed start date significantly.


breaking ground

on tuesday, august 18, 1 day later expected, excavation work began. excavation contract awarded fred shearer construction company of gary, indiana. hobart citizens present ceremony wherein first shovel of dirt turned on mayor frank davis assisted postmaster joseph e. mellon . according robert adams , dorothy ballantyne s book, along route: history of hobart, indiana, post offices , postmasters,





hobart fast republican party stronghold in democratic party county and, @ time, democratic federal government. dyed-in-the-wool republicans bit dubious accepting democratic favors, pride in federal building hobart grew until, when building ready use, dedicated great deal of enthusiasm.



excavation on land progressed smoothly, in mid-september progress slowed due inability obtain enough carpenters. hobart index: commonwealth reported on september 24, don stewart, wisconsin resident , construction superintendent, said after finding enough carpenters (half hobart , half neighboring towns), work again moving along nicely , framework walls ready within few days. setback not last, or scandalous during construction of hobart post office.


scandal erupts

on monday, november 16, don stewart fled state company funds after being fired superintendent position inefficiency previous saturday. per normal routine, stewart received $400 deposit bank payroll, on friday. however, instead of depositing money, kept it, , wrote checks employees, although knew funds insufficient. after relieving him of superintendent duties, stewart s supervisors told him able remain on site , work carpenter. however, when failed report work on monday along fact several local merchants reported holding bad checks, search instituted.


when authorities called william krull, man stewart had been boarding since august, learned had departed shortly after daybreak, taking entire luggage him , driving away in car . accompanying stewart father, david stewart, worked carpenter on post office project. new construction superintendent, ingvald thompson, notified police, issued warrant stewart s arrest , notified police in stewart s hometown, janesville, wisconsin.


in december 1936, janesville police arrested stewart on embezzlement charges. according hobart index: commonwealth, hobart s police chief, frank traeger, announced plan[ned] leave rail ... return fugitive. in addition being wanted structural engineering corporation of new york city, stewart wanted westchester finance company of valparaiso, indiana, held mortgage on used car had purchased roper brothers garage shortly before fled town taking car him .


on february 16, 1937, stewart faced judge william murray of lake criminal court in crown point, indiana. stewart plead not guilty , claiming took $100 of funds because corporation owed him money. remaining $300, stewart stated placed in envelope , left in tool shanty . officials of case believed took entire amount and, ultimately, sentenced 2- 14-year sentence @ michigan city penitentiary embezzlement. appearing against him john murphy, president of corporation, came here new york city testify, byron findling of first state bank, chief traeger , ingvald thompson.


dedication

work on post office continued during don stewart scandal , may 8, 1937, ready dedication. ceremony scheduled 3 o clock, invocation presented reverend c.a. brown. in addition, postmaster joseph mellon gave history of hobart post office. after ceremony, building open visitors complete round of inspection .








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