Designed by the famed Minnesota architect James Knox Taylor, Anoka’s oldest extant public building, built in 1916, is known for its classic Georgian Revival style.
Irving Caswell, the city’s former post master, served as editor of the Anoka Herald in the early 1900s. In 1911, he encouraged Taylor to launch a series of newspaper articles lobbying for the construction of a post office in Anoka. Taylor prevailed, and construction of the post office began in 1916. Its façade displays key elements of the classical style—Neo-Palladian windows, a dentillated cornice, and a fan window over the main entrance.
While it served as Anoka’s Post Office, the building reflected the steady growth of the community. By 1925, the number of addresses receiving deliveries inside the city surpassed 600. Consequently, the postal service added a second carrier to the staff and divided the delivery into two routes. They measured growth by the number of transactions logged.
In 1933, the Anoka Post Office handled $23,193.80 in receipts. Five years, later that number increased to $60,000 and the facility employed eighteen workers. By 1954, the receipts totaled $103,055.94 and the facility’s employment had nearly quadrupled.
The post office weathered more than just growth and expansion. In 1939, it was one of the few public buildings to withstand a devastating tornado that ripped through the area and served as gathering place for survivors of the destruction.
During World War II, the office achieved a “first class” rating. The distinction made it a choice location to purchase not only postal stamps but also war bonds to support the U.S. military’s efforts overseas. The facility also served as a place for those of eligible age to register for the draft.
Post-war growth and the demands of a vibrant community led to the construction of a new postal facility on Seventh Avenue. On October 22, 1977, the old Anoka Post Office delivered its last parcel of mail.
In 1978, the federal government put the site up for sale, and a year later it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The initial price tag and the costs associated with renovating and repurposing the building, however, prevented many, including the Anoka County Historical Society, from purchasing it.
Counselor Realty finally stepped forward with a bid and a plan to restore much of the old building to its original grandeur. The greatest obstacle remained the building’s old furnace, which required dismantling and updating from a coal heating system to a gas one. Over the next two years, the company spent $356,000 on construction and restoration.
Throughout the 1990s, the building served as a multipurpose location. A number of businesses and firms cycled through the historic site, including a charter school, a Christian ministry center, a gym, a coin shop, and a real estate company (Counselor Realty).
By 2000, the old post office had evolved once more into a retail space, creating a need for further updates to make the property attractive to shoppers. Interior fountains, along with mural paintings, were installed while the exterior received a flower garden that enhanced the landscape surrounding the building. Over the next fifteen years, the post office housed a tea room, a bridal shop, antique dealers, and a massage parlor. Throughout that time, Counselor Realty remained the one constant fixture.
Anoka’s Post Office building made national news in September 2004, when President George W. Bush visited the site while campaigning for re-election. Bush spent twenty minutes signing autographs, visiting with the public, and posing for photos. Despite his presidential standing, he discovered his order for an egg salad sandwich at the site’s deli could not be fulfilled. Instead, he opted for the special of the day and appeared content.
In 2002, the U.S. Postal Service officially recognized Anoka as a Sesquicentennial station. It produced a stamp featuring a design of the historic post office that became a coveted souvenir. Anoka County’s 150th anniversary, in 2007, created another opportunity for a special event and in 2016 yet a third as the building itself celebrated a centennial anniversary.
Also in 2016, a set of four jack-o-lantern postage stamps was unveiled in the city plaza in recognition of Anoka’s title as “Halloween capital of the world.” A formal dinner sponsored by the Anoka County Historical Society followed the ceremony.