Remarks from Postmaster

Remarks from Gerritt Van Schelven (postmaster 1899-1916) in his 1914 historical description of the Holland Postal Service, written to commemorate the start of the federal building’s construction. This document was included in the copper box placed in the cornerstone of the building. 

“Within these walls the greatest business organization in the world will transact its local affairs. Through this structure will come and go the written messages of love and hate, of joy and sorrow, of life and death, of hope and despair, of loss and gain, of success and failure, of prose and poetry; in short, every thought of the mind and every emotion of the heart, the comedy and the tragedy of life, as well as its stern realities, will pass through this office with sealed lips.”  

“That this is a day of great joy to me, you can all realize, for this building will ever be to me a witness of the fact that I have at least done something to repay the people of my hometown, whom I love most and best, for the many important positions of honor and trust which they have conferred upon me.” 

Circa 1914, prominent figures of Holland stand on top of the foundation for the federally built post office (future Holland Museum) and lay the cornerstone of the building. A crowd watches the ceremony from below.