Save the Century Postal Station!
Century Postal Station today
Across the country, post offices are closing at an alarming rate. Rural communities are being left without their sole means of physical contact with the outside world (as well as services such as money orders), and gathering places for town residents are disappearing.
Despite the area’s strong economy and growing population, Raleigh has not been immune from such closings. We lost the only post office near the state’s largest university just a few months ago, among several others. The next area closure is in an unlikely location: The Century Postal Station on Fayetteville Street.
Post Office in 1909. From Carolina Power and Light (CP&L) Photograph Collection, North Carolina State Archives.
The South’s First Post-Bellum Post Office
The Downtown Postal Station has been in operation at this location since 1878. Not only was it the first post office built in the South after the Civil War, but it was also the first Federal building project here as well. It was designed by Alfred Mullet, who designed many Federal buildings, including the Old Executive Office Building in Washington D.C., as well as the San Francisco Mint. It has undergone a few renovations and transformations since erected in the 1870s, but retains much of its Second Empire-styled flair.
The photo above shows Fayetteville Street when it was paved in Belgian block.
The track record so far of communities attempting to save their local post office hasn’t been great, but this one’s different than the ones recently closed or on the list for closure. This is the 133-year old, post-Civil War postal station on the main artery of the fastest growing city in the South.
The entire area around it is exploding with growth and life, yet the USPS has decided that it should no longer remain open.
Post Office, as seen from RBC Plaza
How to Help Save the Downtown Postal Station
[UPDATE MAY 18]
Representatives David Price and Brad Miller are in support of Mayor Charles Meeker’s efforts to save the Downtown Postal Station. Read more at the News & Observer.
(original article below)
Although the outlook is bleak and there are few examples of communities that prevented a post office closure, it’s worth contacting elected officials to plead for help in keeping this post office open. If no one from the Federal Government steps in to save it, it will close this summer.
- Contact Rep. Renee Ellmers’ office by using the contact form (the postal station’s zip code is 27601-1799)
- Contact Rep. Brad Miller’s office by using the contact form
- Post an update to twitter asking Renee Ellmers (@RepReneeEllmers) and Brad Miller (@RepBradMiller)Â to step in and keep the station open
It’s expected that Mayor Meeker will address the topic of the post office during a press conference on today or tomorrow. It’s unknown to me if he will step in and try to save it, but you can send him an email with your thoughts.
This is an icon for the city. It represents an advancement of the area immediately following the Civil War, and serves as a destination for Downtown Raleigh residents, visitors, and workers. It should remain open.
Related Articles
Further Reading
- Downtown Raleigh post office to close (News & Observer)
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05/16/2011
Thanks for posting this. Count me in as a supporter.
05/16/2011
Never heard of it before now. Can’t be that urgent. Besides, the Postal Service is broke.
05/16/2011
Fortunately, there is some good news: the building itself is secure…it’s a registered historic property and owned by the federal government. Only the ground floor is the post office. The upper floors are used as bankruptcy court offices and there’s no plan to change that. My guess is they’ll expand into the empty space or the government may put another set of offices in there….we’ll see.
05/16/2011
I don’t believe the building is in any danger at all. Intervening with the USPS will just result in a closure somewhere else in town.
05/17/2011
I have always loved this building — When my Dad worked for state archives in the 1960s, I would often accompany him to THE Post Office to collect the mail. I was mesmerized by all the brass and marble!
Dad had the key to PO Box 1881– I’ll never forget that. It opened one of the larger boxes such as seen here http://goodnightraleigh.com/2008/03/peeking-in-to-post-office/
Once I asked Dad why did the Civil War Centennial Commission have the number 1881 instead of 1861? And Dad said — ’cause the Post Office said so.
05/17/2011
I say get rid of USPS period. Let FedEx, UPS, DHL and other private carriers take over considering they are cheaper, faster and you can track packages online…unlike the USPS’ online tracking system.
I don’t see that building going anywhere if the USPS shuts down the first floor. I’m sure it will be used since it’s right next to the court house. And there’s an even bigger Post Office a few blocks away.
05/18/2011
The old Post Office always had a special meaning to me. My dad worked there from the mid 1940’s until the Postal Service opened a new Sectional Center off Industrial Dr. in the early 1960’s. We would occasionally visit my dad there on the night shift when I was little. He would open a small hatch window on the wall of the P.O. boxes where we could say hello and goodnight. I can still see his big smile now when my mom lifted us up high enough to see him on the other side.
05/20/2011
netposer, I agree there’s lots wrong with the USPS, but no way do any of the companies you cite even come close to cheaper, at least for non-overnight. There is a ton of mail that needs to get there in a few days, but does not need tracking and definitely does not need overnight. Now, maybe without the USPS, FedEx, UPS and such would come out with something similar to a first class mail, but I imagine it would be hard to do it cheaper.
05/23/2011
Century Station isn’t going anywhere. It is a protected, historical structure.
The United States Bankruptcy Court, which is on the upper floors, wants the entire building. That’s why the post office is closing.
Currently the Bankruptcy Administrator is renting expensive space in the BB&T building down the street. Also, Bankruptcy Court staff is divided between Wilson and Raleigh. The plan is to consolidate all these offices in Raleigh in Century Station.
The building has always been both a courthouse and a post office. It was a federal district courthouse before it was a bankruptcy courthouse.
Emotional memories about the station aside, it’s really not necessary, especially with the “new” main post office only a few blocks away.
Closing the post office and consolidating the Bankruptcy Court will save the taxpayers money.
05/31/2011
I’ve heard the arguement that “there is a new post office not far away”. Go talk to the elderly retired folks that live downtown. They WALK to the post office. A “few more blocks” might as well be 30 miles away for them. The post offices could be combined. Move the courts over to the “new” post office- it’s across from the Federal Court House anyhow- seems that would make sense. I feel sorry for all the people who are going to be affected in a negative way should they close this post office. I love the fact we have a “main street” post office still.
06/04/2011
I’m with Jim on this one. The building isn’t going to disappear if the post office leaves. Realistically, if they keep this post office it means that they will likely close another. Perhaps it would be one of the rural post offices mentioned in this post? It seems superfluous having two post offices in downtown raleigh that are only a few blocks apart.
Chris – your solution still closes one post office. What about the elderly people that live closer to that post office than the one on Fayetteville? I like having a “main street” post office too, but money is tight and sacrifices are going to have to be made somewhere. Personally, I think there are fights with bigger stakes, and our energy, and the energy of our elected officials could be put towards something that matters more, like education, or public transit. That’s just my opinion though.
06/08/2011
It looks like the closing has been delayed until at least september at which point it will be re-evaluated by the USPS: http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/9699493/
09/02/2011
I read an article in the recent issue of The Downtowner (in addition to reading this blog post) about the Century Center Post Office. That piece included a photo of the attractive 19th century post office boxes. Wanting to take a closer look, I decided to visit the building during a break. While there I snapped a few pictures of the hall of P.O. boxes and a detailed image of the “meander” motif framing each box.
As I was leaving, I noticed a security guard eying me suspiciously. To explain things, I approached him and shared that I read about the possible fate, to my dismay, of the post office and how I was visiting to appreciate the building. He seemed to ignore my words and gruffly commanded me to read a notice posted on a wall. He then curtly stated that the post office was “not shutting down today.” I was aware of this, and I told him how I recently read about the uncertain future for the USPS operation. For a second time, he angrily commanded me to read the sign. In a placating tone, I told him that there is no need to be mad at me, and that I would leave. He insisted that he was not mad and then demanded that I leave.
I have never met someone so quick to express hostility. This man was utterly unprofessional and deserves a review of his fitness to interact with the public. He is forcing people out of the Century Center when the place is suffering from dwindling business and facing a threat of service termination. This is kind of treatment is unacceptable.
11/01/2011
They used that building as a back drop for the TV series “The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles”. Saw them doing the filming back about 1992.
06/19/2012
One of my projects as a graduate student research assistant was a commission from GSA to write recommendations for the rehab of this building. My assistantship was through a nonprofit in TN which is administered by a university. We did a great deal of “digging” into the history of the building and completed a report. During our research we uncovered many of the original architect’s drawings housed with in the building and performed a paint stratigraphy study in the postal lobby. The evolution and use of this building is also the basis for my thesis which is still in progress. I traveled back to Raleigh in the Spring of 2011 at which time the post office was still functional. I wonder if that is still the case?
The architect, Alfred B. Mullett, designed similar buildings throughout the United States, several of which are demolished. I hope the post office stays open as it is the only way the general public gets to enjoy what is truly a national treasure.
09/20/2013
I agree it it extremely vital that we – the citizens of Raleigh contact ALL of our representatives in Wash, DC to ask them to support keeping the Old Century Post Office on Fayetteville Street open, active and operating. I had already contacted them myself. ALSO IMPORTANT IS THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT Congresswoman Elders does NOT get passed her bill to RENAME IT; THE JESSE HELMS BLDG -IN HER WORDS TO HONOR THE FORMER SENATOR.
PLEAE, PLEASE, CONTACT ALL OF YOUR REPRESENTATIVES IN WASH,DC AND REQUEST THEY VOTE AGAINST – DEFEAT MRS ELDER’S BILL TO RENAME THE OLD CENTURY POST OFFICE.
THERE IS NO NAME OR TITLE MORE APPROPRIATE THAT WHAT IT IS NOW — THE CENTURY POST OFFICE.
THANK YOU.
03/21/2015
I will add the Raleigh Federal Bldg. to my website
(customhousehistory.com) Does anyone have any interior photos of the structure, Courtroom, offices, or Postal area ? Glad to see the old place still stands proudly.