Remember This? The story of the Steelton Post Office

From the Sault Ste. Marie Public Library archives:

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Remember This? Steelton Post Office

The town of Steelton developed as a working class neighbourhood. 

Due to its proximity to Clergue’s industrial complex, employees and their families settled into this area. 

As the population grew, the need for services also became necessary.  

In 1912, the township started plans for its own Post Office building, which the residents had wanted for quite some time.

The residents, along with the help of MP Mr. A.C. Boyce, approached the Department of Public Works of the Dominion Government for the new building.

The site chosen for the building was at the northwest corner of John Street and St. George Avenue.  

Previously post office business had been conducted at the corner of Wellington & John Streets with postmistress, Mrs. Samuel Mack. 

Part of the property was owned by Mr. Hunt of Blind River and part owned by Mr. W.W. Hyland of Thessalon. 

The price of the lot was about $100 a foot with the total cost estimated at $8,000. 

Using local contractors, Lyons and Thompson and local architect Thomas R. Wilks the construction of the building was estimated to cost $25,000.

The building was two storeys with “a hopper roof, the roof being covered with asbestos built up roofing.”

The two main entrances at John Street and St. George’s Avenue had wide concrete approaches with granite steps and platforms and revolving doors. 

The ground floor was used as the Post Office and the second storey was designated for the postmaster’s apartments.

According to a November 11, 1913 Sault Star article, the building measured 46 feet by 49 feet 8 inches with the main frontage facing south.

The basement was “constructed of stone with the main structure of red pressed brick with a cut and dressed stone base 7.5 feet high and cut stone trimmings to match.

The construction (was) first class throughout, all doors and roof supported on steel columns or girders.

The main floor was reinforced concrete finished tiles with all wood finishes of oak or ash.” 

Unfortunately this new Post Office was to have a short working life. 

On January 1, 1918 Steelton and its 7,000 residents amalgamated with Sault Ste. Marie making the Steelton Post Office unnecessary. 

Later in 1918 a Sault Star article read “Use of Steelton P.O. as Library Is Now Pending”, although this plan was never followed through on. 

In 1919 the Sault Ste. Marie Public Library opened its first branch library – the West End Branch – in the former Steelton Town Hall.

According to City Directories the building was used as a post office until the early 1920s and then as a government building until approximately 1933. 

A Tim Hortons now sits on the site.

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