Post Office (former) – Longmont CO

Description

Sometimes mis-attributed to the Works Progress Administration (WPA), the historic former post office at 501 5th Avenue in Longmont, Colorado was a New Deal project funded by the Treasury Department. The building presently (as of 2018) houses the Aspen Center for Child Development.

This building is the most visible local symbol of the Federal Government’s efforts to provide economic relief to the nation during the Great Depression. In 1933, the Roosevelt Administration initiated the National Recovery Act. One facet of this program was to stimulate industrial production by pouring money into the economic life of the nation through a program of public works. $80,000 was authorized for the Longmont post office project under the Emergency Construction Act of June 19, 1934.

This New Deal post office building was dedicated on Saturday, May 16, 1936. Only two postmasters served at this location. Mrs. Adkisson had become postmaster on May 7, 1934, when she succeeded Hugh L. Large, and she served for 15 years. Vance E. Neighbors was appointed postmaster on July 1, 1949, serving until 1977.

The postal office was transferred from the New Deal building to its present location at 2nd Avenue and Coffman Street during the fall of 1976.”