Question About Old Post Office In Chicago

Hello Everyone,

I have this cover

Scan of Front


Scan of Back


Close up Scan


This cover stopped in Chicago on Sept. 26 at the Registry Division, then on the 27th at the Old Post Office Station and then on the 28th at Fort Dearborn Station. I was wondering why it would go to the "Old Post Office Station?" I have many covers with the Registry Division marking along with Fort Dearborn Station or ones that have just the Fort Dearborn Station marking on them and I was wondering if someone might be familiar with or have an explanation as to why the additional stop was needed. Also, is the post office located on a street named "Old" and thats why it's name is Old Post Office Station?

Kathy

i feel really embarrassed that I cant answer it but fort dearborn no longer stands it would have been where michigan ave is they even have markers there. if you had asked this question 2 years earlier I would have gone on a field trip or asked the head post master at our office

oh chicago

sigh

The PO is named Old Chicago Post Office and that is the reason for the cancel name. Look up Old Post Office Chicago and read about the recent sale of what was once the largest PO in the US. There were even several train tracks that ran underneath the raised building for easier loading from my understanding. I have no idea about the postal history of the cover though.

here is a link to the wikipedia page

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Ch..._Post_Office

Thanks for the tip & link Stamperdude. That place is (was) incredible. I'm curious how many employees they had working per shift in a building with more than 60 acres, or 2.5 million square feet of floorspace? You could work there 20 years and never see the same face twice.

Do you think that because of the history of the place & the fact that it is no longer a functioning Post Office that the value of items with postal markings from there would go up?

Kathy

You would have to also consider the amount of items postmarked there. I bet there is a ton of postal history tied to the Old Post Office.

On another note, it was used in the recent movie the Dark Knight as were several other places in Chicago.

Good point about the amount of mail that went thru there. Thanks

Kathy