Old Town, Maine Post Office Building Record [1914-1923]

Descriptive Object
Identifier:
OBJ.N.1997.61
Description
Four successive postmasters kept this custodial record of the building maintenance costs for the new Old Town, ME post office. Record keepers are written on the front page as:
"-1914-
Frank L. Averill - Custodian -
1915
James W. Sewall. Custodian
George H. Hunt. Apr. 9 - 1922 to         Custodian
A. B. Rand. July 24/1923                      Custodian"

These signatures belonged to Frank L. Averill, Postmaster beginning 12/09/1902; James W. Sewall, Postmaster beginning 03/03/1915; George H. Hunt, Acting Postmaster beginning 04/08/1922; and Arthur B. Rand, Acting Postmaster beginning 07/13/1923. During this timespan Eddy A. Conant also served as Postmaster beginning 03/01/1923 but did not sign his name to this custodial record.

The book records expenses in maintaining the building rather than postal services. Categories of expenditures are listed on the page following the above signatures as "Electric Current, Water, Coal, Wood, Ice, Laundry, and Ashes and Rubbish."

Enclosed in the notebook are further notes on Office of the Custodian (Treasury Department Custodian Service) letterhead and a letter addressed to the Custodians of U.S. Public Buildings regarding operating supplies. The letter is dated December 9, 1914 and is typewritten on "Office of Supervising Architect" letterhead stationery. Its first page reads:

"Sirs:

There is inclosed herewith an electric and gas service data card which you are requested to fill in, in accordance with the instructions inclosed, and return to this office.

The information necessary to answer questions regarding the character of gas and electric service available in the city should be obtained from the various local public service companies.

If none of the employees under your charge is competent to furnish you with the information requested in reference to the motor equipment, it is probable that the local service company now supplying electric current to the building in your custody will be so courteous as to give you the assistance of one of its employees familiar with the electrical machinery.

Respectfully,
H. G. Sherwood.
Acting Executive Officer."

The second page of this letter is a typewritten set of instructions for filling out the data card, which is not found in the record book.