Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 22, Number 87, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 July 1901 — An Interesting Old Building. [ARTICLE]

An Interesting Old Building.

Regarding the old building usually known as the old postoffice building, which has just taken to itself wheels and rolled away, but with a mighty deliberate sort of roll, it is not easy to obtain tSe exact facts of its history. The memories of onr older residents in regard to it seem, like the building itself, a little shaky. It is generally agreed that it was built by Tom Spitler, although John Makeever thinks the former’s father, George Spitler, built it. As to the time of its erection, there is also considerable disagreement, but somewhere from 1856 to 1860 would include the right year. It was a good and prominent building in its day, and has filled an important part in the history of the town. It contained the postoffice for 12 consecutive years, previously to that had an Odd Fellows’ lodge room on the second floor; has accomodated several different papers at different times, various kinds of stores, offices etc. It has survived its usefulness in the place where built, and its removal and intended replacement by a fine modern three story business bnilding is a noteworthy event in our march of improvement.