Globe Post Office

 

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(Editor's Notes: The text below was copied verbatim from two National Register of Historic Places nomination forms.  The link for each for is at the end of the text copied from that form.  We used an election Optical Character Reader for the transcriptions.  As a result there are some minor errors.  We are in the process of correcting those errors.  Thanks for your patience while we find & correct them)

"In recognition of this growth and the apparent stability of these towns Congress included appropriations for post office sites in the Public Buildings Omnibus Act of June 25, 1910. In the 1910 legislation, $15,000 was authorized for sites in each of Douglas, Globe, and Tucson (36 Stat. 688). Appropriations for these sites followed in the next year on March 4, 1911. The site for the Globe Post Office and Courthouse was purchased on March 14, 1911; the Douglas Post Office and Custom House on March 18, 1912; and the Tucson Post Office and Court House on April 29, 1914.

Authorizations for buildings in Douglas and Globe, a site and custom house building in Nogales, and a site in Prescott were included in the Public Buildings Omnibus Act of March 4, 1913. It might be noted that the Nogales authorization was for a custom house only; a separate authorization was granted for a post office site within the same Act (37 Stat 877). Thus, the stage was set for three new federal buildings in the State of Arizona. However, for many years frustration among the citizens of these towns was all that was provided.

Citizens of both Douglas and Globe were lobbying intensively for construction to begin. When the supporters of the Douglas federal building read in the December 26, 1914 issue of the Douglas Daily Dispatch that a meeting by Globe's supporters had received the promise o action on their building from Washington, they accelerated their own efforts. According to the Douglas Chamber of Commerce, it was "plainly unfair" that Globe would be given consideration before Douglas, particularly when Douglas had received a building appropriation before Globe. Both Douglas and Globe received building appropriations on February 28, 1916; July 1, 1916; and June 12, 1917. The citizens of Douglas were rewarded with their building in November of 1917, The Globe building received a final appropriation of $20,000 on July 19, 1919. However, the citizens of Globe had to suffer the frustration of receiving building appropriations, having the bids rejected as being too high, and waiting another decade before receiving their building.

The next wave of post offices in Arizona was grounded in the Public Buildings Act of May 25, 1926 (also known as the Keyes-Elliot Act), which greatly expanded the scope of and consolidated the funding for post office construction throughout the nation. Subsequent building programs of the 1930s which were promulgated in response to the Depression were also based in this legislation. Section 3 of the Act allocated $15 million for buildings which had been authorized under previous funding bills (essentially those which had been approved in the 1913 Public Buildings Act). The authorization for the Globe Post Office and Courthouse was included under this section. Section 5 authorized $100 million for new buildings to be allocated to each state in the nation under the advisement of the Secretary of the Treasury and the Postmaster General.

The completion of the Globe, Tucson, and Prescott buildings under the authorization of the Public Buildings Act of May 25, 1926 cleaned up the lingering projects that had been conceived decades before.

The roots of these buildings tie in the early 1910s, a period of booming growth and promises of great futures. The Globe, Tucson, and Prescott buildings of the late 1920s and early 1930s represent the end of the Beaux-Arts tradition and the transition to the reduced "Starved" Classicism of the buildings that would follow in the next wave of public buildings. The buildings possess a monumental quality and display well defined classical elements as does the 1917 Neo-classical Douglas MPO, for example. Prescott, in the Second Renaissance Revival style, retains strong traditional roots. The Globe building, though flat in facade, is elegantly detailed, particularly in its well executed terra cotta entry. Tucson features the Neo-classical style which is distinguished by notable central bay ensemble of glazed terra cotta. The flat facade and stylized decorative elements suggest "Starved" Classicism and the coming of the modern era.

Both the Globe and Prescott buildings represent the end of the Beaux-Arts design tradition as used in federal design.

See: https://arizona-content.usedirect.com/storage/gallery/asp-archive/SHPO/downloads/MPDFS/Post_Offices.PDF


The two-story Globe Post Office is firmly rooted in the Beaux-Arts architectural tradition. The main entrance is flanked by two pilasters and a wide cornice topped with a cast eagle. The public lobby has a tile floor and the walls have a gray marble wainscotting. The post office is located one block east of the principal business street in the community and is one block southeast of the Gila County Courthouse.

PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

The building appears to be in excellent structural condition and is being well maintained. The original bronze and glass doors at the main entrance have been replaced with aluminum frame glass doors. The building has two stories and a full basement and is topped with a flat composition roof. It is constructed of red English bonded brick with poured concrete foundations.

The structure's brick construction is of exceptionally high quality; the alternate courses of headers and stretchers are laid with a rarely seen precision. The architectural style of the building is firmly rooted in the first two decades of this century. The predominant reference is to the Roman Doric style, as seen in the row of dentils below the frieze at the corner and triglyphs above the rusticated Doric columns at the front entrance. Other sources are present in the building. The balustrade above the cornice, S-shaped consoles used as keystones, and rusticated columns at the front entrance are primarily Baroque in origin. In all, the applied ornament is intended to impress and to provide associative values of power, wealth, and a long continuous cultural and aesthetic tradition.

The Globe Post Office and Courthouse is a particularly well executed example of federal design in the Neo-Classical style. The era in which it was constructed (late 1920s to early 1930s) was essentially the end of federal design in the clearly articulated Beaux-Arts tradition, The buildings that followed, particularly those of the mid-to-late-Depression years, were designed with efficiency and standardization as the major criteria. Architecturally, the building is of both statewide and local significance as one of three post offices in the Neo-Classical style within the state, The construction of the post office was a major event locally, one that symbolized the culmination of many years of effort in lobbying the federal government in order to secure their first and only federal building.

ARCHITECTURE

The Globe Post Office, in its finely crafted facade of red brick with contrasting white terra cotta, provides not only an imposing demeanor but additionally, is imbued with appealing visual quality. The post office contrasts with (perhaps) the more imposing stone Old Gila County Courthouse. The post office imparts the sophistication of the federal government whereas the stone courthouse connotes the rugged quality of a frontier community. Both represent the legacy of government in the community and are its major buildings.

The building is one of the rare federal buildings constructed in the West during the 1920s (one of two in Arizona and one of nine in the Western Region). This was a period of reassessment of federal building programs that had begun in the 1910s but was not manifested until the Public Buildings Act of May 1926. Actually, the Globe building represents one of 66 designated buildings nationwide to be constructed in the new wave of federal construction, While it owns its roots to the pre-1920s in both initial funding and design philosophy, it represents the transition to the “modern" buildings to come. Architecturally, the group of buildings constructed in the late 1920s to early 1930s remained firmly rooted in the Beaux-Arts tradition (including the buildings in Douglas, Prescott, and Yuma). The changes in design during this transitional period are subtle, but are generally manifested in flatter facades with less articulation of three dimensional architectural elements.

January lst, 1926 ushered in a new year for the citizens of Globe, another year of waiting for their new federal building. They had been waiting since June of 1910 when an appropriation for a site was made for a government building in the city. A site was acquired on March 14, 1911 and $100,000 was authorized for a building on March 4, 1913. According to a December 26, 1914 article in the Douglas Daily Dispatch, a meeting held by a group of local businessmen appeared to have success in obtaining a promise from the federal government that a new building was forthcoming. This news created an uproar in Douglas, whose citizens felt it unfair that Globe's building would be constructed before theirs. However, the building did not come to Globe. Globe received appropriations in 1915, 1916 (two), 1917, and 1919, but by 1920 still had no building.

Just a few days after the beginning of the new year, the Arizona Record of Globe carried front page headlines “Post Office Proposed For Globe" (January 9, 1926). A new House bill, presented by Representative Busby of Mississippi, had appropriated over $187 million for the construction of over 300 post offices in various parts of the country. In the proposed bill, Globe was given an appropriation of $225,000 while Prescott would receive $250,000 and Tucson, $450,000. According to the press account, when Postmaster Charles J. Alden was shown the Associated Press dispatch, "he jumped straight up and cracked his heels together like a boy with his first pair of long trousers", Postmaster Alden stated "It begins to look like Globe would get its long promised federal building". The article added that bids had been received on the building's construction some years ago, but the lowest bid had totaled $80,000, which would not cover the entire cost of the building and furnishings. Hence, the bids were rejected. Globe's citizens had even chipped in and raised $10,000 to supplement the government's appropriation in hopes that the contract would be let, but first one thing and then another held up the proposition.

The other news of that day was the House's approval of a $450,000 dam over the Gila River. The appropriation was for the Coolidge Dam, located approximately 25 miles southeast of Globe. The news of the post office overshadowed this announcement, however.

Several months elapsed before news of the post office again reached the press. the building appeared a step nearer when on May 5th the Record reported that the public buildings bill was nearing passage in the Senate. The appropriation included $225,000 for a building in Globe. The next day an article captioned "Senate Public Buildings" greeted Globe readers. Globe would be assured a new building under a $15 million fund to be allocated to completing buildings approve the last bill passed before World War I.

A month later the Record announced “Prescott To Get Federal Building Under New Bill". The article reported a new $165 million appropriation under which Prescott would get a building. Funding was also included to complete 66 projects that had been authorized since 1913. Postmaster Alden had been informed by Senator Cameron that Globe would be entitled to a federal building, including a post office under that bill. An article of June 6th reaffirmed the previous news and stated that the federal building would likely begin in the summer.

On June 13th the Record reported the visit of T.W. Naylor, post office inspector, who was in Globe to inspect the post office site. During his visit Naylor stressed that before the United States government proceeds with the project, it would have to be advised by the business interests of Globe as to how the site for the proposed federal building is regarded. W.A. Sullivan, Secretary of the Globe Luncheon Club, assured Mr. Naylor that the site was supported by the local business community.

The headlines of the June 25th, 1926 issue of the Record announced to the citizens of Globe that "$165,000 Federal Building for Globe Soon Indicated". According to Mayor William Wills, word had been received from Representative Carl Hayden that the money would soon be available. Both Mayor Wills and Postmaster Alden, according to the article, "were elated",

The year passed without further word on the fate of the federal building. In January of 1927, the proposals to erect two new buildings in Globe were announced. A $45,000 telephone building and a $25,000 Methodist church were soon to be erected. A February 8th article reported that the tower House had approved a public buildings bill, but Globe was not mentioned. The following day the eagerly anticipated federal building provided the headlines for the Record: "Globe Federal Building Bids Called", March llth was set as the deadline for receipt of bids. As reported in the article "Dreams of old-time residents of a splendid federal building came one step nearer realization yesterday when instructions to publish a call for bids were received here yesterday by Postmaster Charles J. Alden". It was also reported that a United States courthouse would be included in the building. An article of March 19th reported that the contract would be let soon.

History seemed to be repeating itself. The bids, as they had been years before, were too high and the project returned to the drawing board. However, the June 7th article added that Dacite, a locally quarried stone might be used for the building material. It was suggested that when bids were called a second time, that the stone might be specified. On June 1st it was reported that the plans were being redrawn. The new specifications were expected on August lst. August 18th brought the long awaited news that the construction contract had been awarded. J.H. Weise of Omaha, Nebraska, was awarded the contract with a bid of $146,300. Further, it appeared that Dacite would be used in the construction.

Excavation for the new building began in September of 1927. On September 7th the Record's headlines announced that "Federal Building Excavation Work To Begin In 10 Days". E. C. Moschel, superintendent of construction for J.H. Weise, gave assurances that work would progress rapidly. He added that local labor and materials would be used as much as possible. The hopes of using Dacite were ended when a September 20th article announced that terra cotta would be used instead. The cornerstone was laid on December 27th without particular fanfare (reported December 28th).

Globe's new Methodist church was dedicated on January 1, 1928. A moveme v/ various Globe civic leaders to purchase the vacant half block across the post o. site was reported on February 10th. It was pointed out that "Globe has at present no public park and that no more appropriate site could be elected than opposite the federal building". Another article of the same date reported that work was progressing rapidly on the federal building. The brick work was nearly complete. Articles of March 10th and 1lith reported that two major projects were underway including the Williams dairy plant, the Collin's building, the remodeling of Woolworth's, and that a new $70,000 theater was proposed. A progress report of May 16th indicated that the plastering on the new post office was nearly complete. Opening was expected in early fall.

An article of July 24th announced that the new post office would be ready for occupancy by August 15th. However, delays in receiving the furniture postponed the opening to mid-September, The building opened for business on September 17th, 1928, the following day's Record headed the front page with “New Globe Federal Building Opened", Hundreds of admiring citizens visited the “beautiful edifice". The accompanying article described the building in detail. It was described as being as elaborately equipped on the interior as it was imposing and beautiful on the exterior. The visitors were filled with enthusiastic praise and admiration.

In addition to the front page article, three full pages of advertisements provided glowing praises for the new building. Page 7 included a photo of the building and a rendering of a knight clad in armor holding a lance that proclaimed "Victory" on its banner. The following adulatory words were offered by Globe's civic clubs:

As in the golden days of old, when the steel clad knight who had conquered on the field of battle or in jousting tournament, carried a banner with "victory" emblazoned on its silky folds, so today the civic clubs of Globe celebrate the completion and occupation of the city's new $165,000 federal building and post office, which has been opened for the public service,

Modestly, officials and members of these clubs are pleased to claim some share in this great achievement. But they are more than glad at this time to testify to the spirit of co-operation and united effort on the part of all Globe citizens, which after long years, has resulted in victory. The force of this united effort, with the splendid aid rendered by our senators and representatives in congress, has surmounted obstacles, which at one time seemed insuperable.

They are also happy, that the officials and employees of Globe's postal force, a well as federal officials who serve Gila county and the adjacent areas, will have such a splendid home, so perfectly equipped and artistically appointed, There is one lesson, the civic clubs of Globe, wish to leave at this time. It is the power of co-operative effort. It has won this victory, and will win many more for Globe. Let us continue this magnificent spirit of unity and strength, and lead on to many more great victories for Globe.


See: https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/GetAsset/NRHP/85003106_text