Old Aiken Post Office Explained

Old Aiken Post Office
Location:203 Laurens St. SW, Aiken, South Carolina, 29801
Coordinates:33.5594°N -81.7239°W
Built:1912[1]
Owner:Todd Lista[2]

The Old Aiken Post Office, located in Aiken, South Carolina, is a former United States Post Office and photography studio that now serves as an office building. The first floor of the building has been occupied by Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, LLC since December 2009 following renovations.[3]

The building was originally proposed by U.S. Representative George W. Croft in 1904. After Croft's death, his son, U.S. Representative Theodore G. Croft, continued the project.[4] Over the years, the building has been occupied by numerous politicians, including U.S. Senator Strom Thurmond and South Carolina Senator Tom Young.

History

U.S. Representative George W. Croft originally proposed the idea of building a post office in downtown Aiken in 1904. Upon Croft's death, his son Theodore G. Croft was elected to serve the remainder of his father's congressional term. Theodore Croft continued his father's work on getting the building built, and, with the help of U.S. Representatives J.O. Patterson and his successor James F. Byrnes, he secured $50,000 from the U.S. Congress for the building. Construction began in 1911 and was completed in 1912.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Old Aiken Post Office transformed into SRNS Aiken headquarters. Savannah River Nuclear Solutions. Savannah River Nuclear Solutions. 15 June 2017.
  2. News: Hale. Stephen Delaney. Federal building lives on. Carolina Chronicle. 1 October 1995.
  3. Web site: 2011 Historic Preservation Awards. South Carolina Department of Archives & History. State Historic Preservation Office. 15 June 2017.
  4. News: Lord. Philip. Old Aiken Post Office Sold. Aiken Standard. 22 February 1990.