Our Past Is Present April 21, 2017

April 21, 2017

            This is “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.

            Today’s program is about two more historic sites in Junction City that we know you will want to take a closer look at the next time you are downtown.  One of those is the Memorial Arch in Heritage Park at the corner of Sixth and Washington Street and the other is the 1931 Post Office Building, which was originally 138 West Sixth Street.

            The Memorial Arch was conceived by Civil War veterans known as the Grand Army of the Republic or the GAR.  It was dedicated in 1897 after a full year of planning in memory of soldiers and sailors who served their country from 1861 to 1865.  Stonework for the arch was done by Junction City masons and cost $1800 to build.  The architect was F.A. Gardner, who also did many of the original buildings on Fort Riley.  The Junction City Rotary Club is currently working on a project to update the Arch and is in a fundraising campaign to do so. If you are interested in contributing, please contact Mary Hogan at Screen Machine Sports at 117 E. Seventh Street in Junction City.

            The next building included in today’s program is the 1931 Post Office Building located at 138 West Sixth Street.  This building was begun in 1928 and was the first government-owned Post Office in Junction City.  At one time space was rented in the southwest corner of the Bartell Hotel.  This building served as the Post Office from 1931 to 1962, when the United Telephone Company took over the building.  In 1989 the exterior façade panels were removed and the windows and brick front were restored to the original design.