Story Behind the
28 S. STATE ST. “Twenty-eight’s” use has almost exclusively been for government purposes throughout its 87-year history. The building is leaving behind its days of government service and transitioning into a new use, adding attractions to Uptown.
DEPRESSION-ERA PUBLIC WORKS PROJECT The book, “Images of America: Westerville”, written by retired Westerville historian Beth Weinhardt in 2004 included this summary of the origin of the building: In the book Weinhardt says, “In the years of the Depression, numerous public works projects turned the country’s unemployed workers into wage earners. The construction of this new post office at the northeast corner of State Street and Winter Street was one of those projects. The square brick building was constructed in 1935. One aspect of the building’s interior was controversial. Olive Nuhfer, an artist commissioned by the Works Progress Administration, created a mural that hung in the building. It showed the residents more urban than Westerville going about their business. Olive Nuhfer was from Pittsburgh and never visited Westerville. Upon viewing the mural, residents recognized that it did not depict their pastoral community and expressed their displeasure.” THE YEARS AS A U.S. POST OFFICE Its first use was as a U.S. Post Office when it opened for operation in 1936. Nearly 20 years later, USPS had outgrown the site and relocated down the street to 260 S. State St. The City purchased the building in 1985. Interestingly, WPD used the building while 29 S. State St. (the former headquarters) was being built. REMEMBER WHEN IT WAS WESTERVILLE PARKS & RECREATION? When WPD moved out, Parks & Recreation moved in. They operated there until 1997, then moved to 64 E. Walnut St. (before the Westerville Community Center). The City allowed the Westerville Area Chamber of Commerce and the then-Westerville Convention and Visitors Bureau (now Visit Westerville) to use the building. By 2002, both organizations had moved out and the City invested in renovations and security upgrades for WPD, which had outgrown its headquarters by the early 2000s. INVESTIGATIONS AND MUSEUMS The WPD Investigations (Detective) Bureau operated out of the building for more than 16 years (moving back in 2005). During that time, some creative and dedicated support staff members collected WPD memorabilia and artifacts to curate a local police museum, which will be relocated to the Justice Center later this year. Want to learn more? Check out the Local History Center at the Westerville Public Library. Visit www.westervillelibrary.org/museum for current hours.
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Harry McElwee, rural postal carrier. Circa 1930-1940. Photos provided by the Westerville Public Library History Museum.
Interior view of the Post Office and postal workers. Circa 1930-1940. Photos provided by the Westerville Public Library History Museum.
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