First Class Building: Wayzata Post Office
It’s 1933 and it’s the height of the Great Depression. One in four workers don’t have jobs. That’s the same year that newly elected. President Franklin Roosevelt rolled out the New Deal.
Essentially, it was an effort to stabilize the economy and get folks back to work.
Two years later, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) was created.
WPA put 8.5 million Americans back to work over the course of eight years. Buildings were built by people eager for a paycheck. One of those buildings is the Wayzata Post Office.
Construction began in 1941 and just in the nick of time really. In December of that year Pearl Harbor was bombed and our country was thrust into World War II. WPA had served its purpose – now, the country immediately needed factory workers to produce the equipment needed to win the war– there were plenty of good jobs available now.
For $70,000, the federal government funded the building, land, equipment, and furnishings. It opened for business in April of 1942. The mural inside was created in 1943 by artist Ruth Grotenrath. This was a part of the U.S. Treasury Department’s Section of Painting and Sculpture. Same idea – get folks working – in this case, starving artists.
When you walk into Wayzata Post Office these days, you’re immediately propelled to a time nearly 100 years ago. The dark wood, the old-time signs and the pleasant smell of the past. Whether you have mail to drop off or pick up, it’s working taking a step back in time and checking this place out.
We’re lucky to be able to do that frankly.
In 2009, the U.S. Postal Service posted a notice that it was considering selling the historical building.
The charge to prevent the sale of the building was led by the Wayzata Heritage Preservation Board. Residents Judy Starkey and the late Irene Stemmer were at the forefront of the effort.
Fortunately, through hard work, petitioning politicians, the campaign worked. The post office was not sold.
A few years back, the post office was officially named for the late U.S. Congressman Jim Ramstad – a longtime voice for residents.
Well, nearly 100 years ago, we have a true treasure sitting along Minnetonka Avenue just blocks from Lake Minnetonka.
A postal portal to the past.
