by Wesley Harris
I like to see old buildings preserved and restored, especially when the restorers take great pains to maintain the historical integrity of the property. In other words, the restoration gives a sense that you are stepping back in time.
I had the pleasure of touring the old Ruston Post Office recently from basement to attic with one of the new owners, Jonathan Joseph. It was an adventure. The renovation of this historic property will be a major undertaking–not something that will take place in a couple of months.
When word got out the old post office building, constructed in 1910, was likely to become a restaurant, possibly a Delta Biscuit Company, the excitement in Ruston was palpable.
Joseph said no final decision has been made on the type of restaurant going into the building.
“Very likely it will be Delta Biscuit,” Joseph said, adding the final decision will be made once interior construction is planned.
I knew such restorations took time and money, but when I toured the building, the reality struck me that this is a huge and bold venture. The building of Indiana limestone is sturdy and structurally sound, but the inside is in shambles. There is nothing that can be saved for the restaurant. The new owners are starting from scratch.
Joseph wants to recognize the history of the building and the legacy of downtown Ruston as much as possible in the renovation.
That thrills Amy Stegall, Ruston’s Main Street director.
“I’m very excited about the revitalization of the historic post office in Downtown Ruston,” Stegall said. “An additional restaurant will significantly boost the economic vitality of downtown. By attracting both locals and tourists, it will not only create jobs but also stimulate further investment and business opportunities in the area.”
Stegall recognizes the importance of the building which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
“To me the most exciting part of this project is the adaptive reuse of one of our most significant buildings,” Stegall said. “Investing in historic preservation projects enhances the overall vibrancy and sustainability of our community.”
“We’re about to submit our plan to the Louisiana Division of Historical Preservation and National Park Service to restore the facade to the post office, as it was for most of the 1900s,” Joseph said. “Based on historical photos available, we have a good idea of what the outside of the building was like, and those photos are supporting our plan.”
For the exterior, that means opening up windows that have been sealed for decades and recreating the original iron lamp posts that lighted the front steps.
“We’re progressing nicely,” Joseph said, “as quickly as expected with a historic building that needs careful preservation and attention.”
Joseph said he wants to restore the building as much as possible to its look as a post office. The dining room will replace the former customer service area and the kitchen will be positioned where mail sorting occurred.
“We’re working with historians to ensure the building’s cultural and regional significance is restored and revived,” Joseph said, his enthusiasm for the project obvious.
As a first step, the building is being protected from further deterioration.
“We’re in the process of protecting the building from leaks and further deterioration to the inside,” Joseph said.
After the post office closed at 1963, the building became the home of a number of federal offices that had been scattered throughout Ruston. During the Vietnam era, young men went to the draft board in the building to register.
With the addition of numerous sheetrock walls and suspended ceiling tiles since 1963 and the removal of anything postal, the building looks nothing like it did before the post office operation moved.
The building was eventually acquired by the Lincoln Parish Police Jury, which used it for entities like the Cooperative Extension Service and the parish’s geographic information systems office.
Brian Davis, executive director of the Louisiana Trust for Historic Preservation is one of those consulted on the renovation.
“It’s great to see the rehabilitation process begin on this Ruston landmark, with original features of the building being uncovered and incorporated into the new design,” Davis said. “Small offices and drop-down ceilings have been removed, allowing original plasterwork to be appreciated once again.”
Those sheet rock walls and dropped tile ceilings concealed any remnant of the old post office. The massive ceilings with intricate brick molding was hidden. The building will have to be completely gutted and that will be a chore in itself.
The building will require new wiring, new plumbing, new air conditioning, and ADA features like an entrance ramp.
The renovation is anticipated to cost millions. That’s a lot of biscuits.
That means they are going to need community support. And patience. Opening day is far away and a historic restoration, or perhaps more accurately a renovation in this case, is going to take time.
The exterior won’t be as difficult. You can see from the photos, the current building features changes to the main floor windows, the closure of the basement windows, and removal of the original lamp posts on the front steps.
Davis likes the plan to remove the partially blocked windows.
“The new owners will replicate the large wood windows which were present until the mid-20th century,” Davis. “This will completely transform the look and feel of the building and return it to a more historically appropriate appearance.”
Even with a post office theme throughout, don’t expect it to look like Ruston‘s post office of old. The need for a large dining room, kitchen, and much larger restrooms than the original tiny cubicles will mean a completely different floor plan.
But the owners are serious about creating a sense you are stepping into a post office of 100 years ago.
Don’t be surprised if they pay homage to the equally historic Post Office Café that was so popular right next door.
I was only six in 1963 and even though my dad and great uncle worked at the post office, my memory of the interior is limited. Any descriptions anyone can provide of the interior that I can pass on would be helpful. Little details like the type of floor in the lobby, the number of clerk windows, etc. would be helpful. Photos of the interior would be great, but I’ve been looking for those for years.
Wesley Harris can be reached at campruston@gmail.com.
