HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News Record, 2015-02-11, Page 1010 News Record • Wednesday, February 11, 2015
The Old Clinton Post Office, 1904-66
David Yates
Special to the News Record
Before radio, television and
the intemet, the post office was
the central hub through which
the nation communicated. The
`majestic' Clinton Post Office
and Customs House with its
clock tower which stood at the
town's centre was the mostvisi-
ble symbol of the Dominion
government's presence in the
area. Itwas also Clinton's signa-
ture building for over 60 years.
Previously, the Clinton Post
office was located in a wood
frame building on Victoria
Street. For a two penny stamp,
the Royal Mail delivered letters
to anywhere in the British
Empire or the United States. By
the turn of the twentieth cen-
tury, Clinton's postal needs had
outgrown its humble location.
In April 1902, the Honoura-
ble J. L. Tarte, the Dominion
Minister of Public Works,
approved plans for a distinct
post office building in the thriv-
ing
hrixing town of Clinton. Robert
Holmes, the Liberal Member of
Parliament for Huron West,
personally approved the build-
ingplans.
The property at the junction
of the Huron and London
Roads, known as Victoria
Square, was purchased. Harri-
son Wiltse's store was torn
down to make way for the one -
of -a -kind post office building
uniquely designed to fit the tri-
angular shaped property bor-
dered by Victoria and King
Streets. Construction began in
August on the 'handsome'
three storey structure said to be
the finest post office building
anywhere in the Dominion in a
town the size of Clinton.
Future Clinton Mayor, Sam-
uel Sloane Cooper, was
awarded the contract Although
it was undoubtedly a patronage
appointment, Cooper proved
an excellent choice. He had
experience building such pub-
licworks as the Huron House of
Refuge, and Stavely Hall.
Cooper also built St. Joseph's
Roman Catholic church, the
Normandie Hotel, and the S.S.
Cooper Block on Victoria Street.
Even the Conservative 'Clinton
News -Record' conceded that
`Mr. Cooper is noted for his
untiring energy and his ability
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Contributed photo
Clinton Post Office circa 1915.
to handle big contracts:
The building's red bricks
were transported from
Beamsville while the stone trim
was quarried in Guelph and
shipped by rail to Clinton. The
interiorbrickworkwaskilned at
Sproats brickery in Egmond-
vifle. As the new building rose
from the ground level so to did
the public's anticipation level.
After several construction
delays, the new $17 500 Clinton
Post Office was 'thrown open to
the public' on Saturday, Janu-
ary 16, 1904. Despite a raging
blizzard, both local papers
reported that hundreds
crowded into the new Post
Office to inspect the Laurier
government's gift to Clinton. In
September 1908, Prime Minis-
ter Laurier was officially wel-
comed to Clinton on the steps
of the post office.
The Liberal `Clinton New -
Era' described the tall but nar-
row building as 40 x 40 feet
square with a tower rising to a
height of 75 feet' above street
level. A metallic mansard roof
'lent brilliancy' to the building
in the sunshine.
Stairways from Kmg and Vic-
toria Streets led to the archway
entrance on the building's
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north side. The 'New -Era'
reported that upon entry 'one
meets with the richest sight in
the whole building. The snow
white walls, panelled oil fin-
ished ceiling, commodious
lobby, quarter turned oak fin-
ishings, chip glass panels and
brass grilles and platings can-
not but be admired.'
The second and third floors
were the living quarters of Post
Master James Scott and his
family. The six room residence,
though small, was considered
remarkable for its `enviable bath
and toilet room.' (Indoor
plumbing was still considered a
novelty in 1904). The tower's
observation room gave the Post
Master a commanding view of
the whole town.
It was a thoroughly modem
building with 55 electric lights
serviced by 1800 feet of copper
wire and a steam heating sys-
tem with 4 000 feet of pipe'tra-
versing' the building. The Postal
Inspector for the London Dis-
trict said that 'the town should
feel proud to have such a mag-
nificent public building.' In
1909, town council installed a
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clockwith faces on all four sides
of the tower. The post office
building remained at the heart
of the town's centre for decades.
After the Great War, the post
office as the Dominion govern-
ment building was the natural
repository for the bronze tablets
with the names of the War
Dead. Until 1964, Remem-
brance Day services were held
on the north side of the post
office. The bronze plaques
were then removed to the
legion in 1965 where they
remain to this day.
During the Second World
War, it was the sad duty of Post
Master G. Morley Counter to
hand deliver telegrams inform-
ing families of the names of
their relatives who were killed,
wounded or missing. Everyone
must have dreaded a visit from
the local Post Master during the
war years. In its 61 year history,
the building had only four post
masters.
By 1960, the Clinton Post
Office was considered an out
dated relic.
CONTINUED > PAGE 11
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