Community Corner
The Des Plaines Post Office (1930)
A history of the 650 Graceland Post Office Building
In 1930, Des Plaines continued its march towards modernity with the building of its first permanent, dedicated Post Office, on the corner of Graceland and Webford streets.
While Des Plaines had a post office since its earliest days, they were usually small and associated with another business. And the rapid growth of the village meant that they only lasted a few years.
In 1920 the Post Office moved to the newly built Manuel Building on Miner Street; only four years later, it moved to the Masonic Temple Building. In 1930 the Post Office achieved a first class ranking by selling over $40,000 in stamps during 1929, awarding it expanded service. The 1930 Post Office itself would last just over 10 years before being replaced by a much larger building just across the street.
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The post office would cost $30,000 and was constructed by the J.A. Sigwalt Company of Des Plaines. It was designed by William F. McCaughey, Jr.
McCaughey was designer or co-designer of such prominent buildings as Rand Park, Maine East High School and the Pickwick Theatre, as well as numerous other schools, houses, and public buildings.
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Even today, Graceland is on the very edge of downtown. When this Post Office was announced, it was even more isolated; Ellinwood street did not even exist between Graceland and Lee. Fortunately, plans to extend the street were announced simultaneously, and several buildings were demolished or moved, including the former train station, then being used as a freight house.
The new post office was spacious in comparison to previous quarters; it was two stories with a large sorting room in back. And it was very architecturally modern. It featured cutting-edge steel windows, and elaborate brickwork textures with contrasting cream and brown brick arranged in dart patterns, projecting lines, ribs, and receding planes. It was topped with a flagpole and a limestone tablet reading "DESPLAINES POST OFFICE" and was placed above the door. After the post office outgrew the building, it became office and apartment space, which remain today.
