Commerce Post Office

Duane's take

Here's how the official marker tells it, and here's how I'm telling it to you. The U.S. Treasury Department broke ground on this building in Commerce, Hunt County, back in July of 1917.

Now, the country was deep in World War I at the time, and if you think that made the construction go smooth and quick, well. A number of delays had their say. The building didn't see completion until August of 1918.

More than a year of starts and stops, but it got there. And once it did, it settled into its work. For decades, that building was the city's main post office facility, handling the mail and the business of Commerce all the way until 1971.

Then, the following year, it was deeded over to the city. And what happened next is the kind of thing that makes you appreciate a good solid building. In 1973, it reopened as a public library.

Same walls, new purpose. The building itself is Georgian revival in style, and it earns that description. There's a central entry portico to welcome you in, and up along the roofline, an alternating parapet and balustrade that gives the whole place a look of deliberate dignity.

Started during a world war, finished after delays, served as post office, became a library. Some buildings just have more than one story in them.

What the marker says

The U. S. Treasury Department began construction of this building in July 1917, during the country's involvement in World War I. Completed in August 1918 after a number of construction delays, it served as the city's main post office facility until 1971. Deeded to the city the following year, it reopened as a public library in 1973. The Georgian revival-style building features a central entry portico and an alternating parapet/balustrade along the roofline. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1991