The Federal Building
and
Early Mail Service
315 N. Bridge Street, Chippewa Falls

This Federal Post Office Building was built in 1910 at a cost of $90,000 on property purchased from the Thornton estate for $10,000. The Neo-Classical design style was often used by governmental architects of the Treasury Department during the period of 1895 and 1930.

Regular mail service and the first post office were established at Chippewa Falls in 1851. Hiram S. Allen received a commission as the first postmaster and received what little mail there was at the "Company Store." There being no postage stamps in those days, the recipient of a letter was first compelled to pay for its carriage and delivery before he received it. The usual charge was twenty-five cents.

By the year 1855 mail arrived by "pony express" and two years later a bi-weekly stage line was established between Chippewa Falls and Wabasha, from where the mail arrived up the Mississippi River by river boats. Free delivery of mail was started in 1888 when five uniformed carriers were approved by the Post Office Department in Washington, D.C. for the city of Chippewa Falls.

Chippewa County Historical Society
Historic Sign #10