Encyclopedia Dubuque
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DUBUQUE CUSTOM HOUSE AND POST OFFICE: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:dubuquecustom.gif|left|thumb|250px|Dubuque Custom House and Post Office]]DUBUQUE CUSTOM HOUSE AND POST OFFICE. | [[Image:dubuquecustom.gif|left|thumb|250px|Dubuque Custom House and Post Office]]DUBUQUE CUSTOM HOUSE AND POST OFFICE. The United States Customs Service was established in 1789 as part of the U.S. Treasury Department. The Service was to aid and protect the new nation from bankruptcy by providing the country with its first form of revenue to pay for public roads and land purchases. | ||
The act placed a duty on goods, wares and merchandise imported into the country. The Service was also responsible for registration, enrollment and licensing of vessels. One of the first post offices west of the [[MISSISSIPPI RIVER]]. Through the tireless efforts of Senator [[JONES, George W.|George W. JONES]], an act of Congress in 1858 made Dubuque an official Port of Entry. The first Surveyor of Customs was E. Spottswood who operated an office at 110 Main Street near the river. Senator Jones persuaded Congress to appropriate $200,000 for a Custom House. | |||
In late 1858 construction on the building was started at the corner of Ninth and Locust [[STREETS]]. Designed by Ely S. Parker, a former colonel on the staff of Ulysses S. Grant. The Custom House and Post Office was completed in 1866 at a cost of $175,000 or almost double the original estimate due to interruptions caused by an economic panic and later by the [[CIVIL WAR]]. Cut limestone, supplied by [[HAM, Mathias|Mathias HAM]], was said to have come from the ruined Mormon Temple at Nauvoo, Illinois. The new building housed the Surveyor of Customs, Post Office, Internal Revenue Service and the U.S. District Court. When Customs moved into the new building, Jesse M. Harrison was the surveyor. | |||
In 1921 city officials discussed purchasing the building as a replacement for the [[DUBUQUE CITY HALL]]. During the Great Depression, the federal government, in the interest of economy, consolidated many customhouses. The Port of Dubuque was closed in 1933. The building was demolished in 1947 to allow construction of the Northwestern Bell Telephone Company offices. (Photo Courtesy: http://www.dubuquepostcards.com) | Tea, one of the principal products imported through Dubuque, came primarily to the [[MCFADDEN COFFEE AND SPICE COMPANY]] and the firm of John T. Hancock and Sons. Customs duty at ten cents a pound resulted in a great source of income for the government. Other imports included tobacco from Havana, Cuba; gin from Belgium; and paper bags from Japan. | ||
In 1921 city officials discussed purchasing the building as a replacement for the [[DUBUQUE CITY HALL]]. During the Great Depression, the federal government, in the interest of economy, consolidated many customhouses. The Port of Dubuque was closed in 1933. The building was demolished in 1947 to allow construction of the Northwestern Bell Telephone Company offices. : | |||
Other surveyors included: | |||
[[LYON, Delos E.|Delos E. LYON]] 1875-1883 | |||
Robert Armstrong 1883-1887 | |||
Owen McLoughlin 1887-1894 | |||
William J. Sweeney 1894-1896 | |||
John M. Leniham 1896-1912 | |||
Conrad B. Scherr 1912-1915 | |||
N.E. Winnie 1915-1918 | |||
J. L. Green 1918-1921 | |||
Conrad B. Scherr 1921-1933 | |||
(Photo Courtesy: http://www.dubuquepostcards.com) | |||
[[Category: Buildings]] | [[Category: Buildings]] | ||
[[Category: Postal System]] | [[Category: Postal System]] | ||
Revision as of 17:58, 22 November 2009
DUBUQUE CUSTOM HOUSE AND POST OFFICE. The United States Customs Service was established in 1789 as part of the U.S. Treasury Department. The Service was to aid and protect the new nation from bankruptcy by providing the country with its first form of revenue to pay for public roads and land purchases.
The act placed a duty on goods, wares and merchandise imported into the country. The Service was also responsible for registration, enrollment and licensing of vessels. One of the first post offices west of the MISSISSIPPI RIVER. Through the tireless efforts of Senator George W. JONES, an act of Congress in 1858 made Dubuque an official Port of Entry. The first Surveyor of Customs was E. Spottswood who operated an office at 110 Main Street near the river. Senator Jones persuaded Congress to appropriate $200,000 for a Custom House.
In late 1858 construction on the building was started at the corner of Ninth and Locust STREETS. Designed by Ely S. Parker, a former colonel on the staff of Ulysses S. Grant. The Custom House and Post Office was completed in 1866 at a cost of $175,000 or almost double the original estimate due to interruptions caused by an economic panic and later by the CIVIL WAR. Cut limestone, supplied by Mathias HAM, was said to have come from the ruined Mormon Temple at Nauvoo, Illinois. The new building housed the Surveyor of Customs, Post Office, Internal Revenue Service and the U.S. District Court. When Customs moved into the new building, Jesse M. Harrison was the surveyor.
Tea, one of the principal products imported through Dubuque, came primarily to the MCFADDEN COFFEE AND SPICE COMPANY and the firm of John T. Hancock and Sons. Customs duty at ten cents a pound resulted in a great source of income for the government. Other imports included tobacco from Havana, Cuba; gin from Belgium; and paper bags from Japan.
In 1921 city officials discussed purchasing the building as a replacement for the DUBUQUE CITY HALL. During the Great Depression, the federal government, in the interest of economy, consolidated many customhouses. The Port of Dubuque was closed in 1933. The building was demolished in 1947 to allow construction of the Northwestern Bell Telephone Company offices. :
Other surveyors included:
Delos E. LYON 1875-1883
Robert Armstrong 1883-1887
Owen McLoughlin 1887-1894
William J. Sweeney 1894-1896
John M. Leniham 1896-1912
Conrad B. Scherr 1912-1915
N.E. Winnie 1915-1918
J. L. Green 1918-1921
Conrad B. Scherr 1921-1933
(Photo Courtesy: http://www.dubuquepostcards.com)