Built between 1931 and 1935, this historic structure is a six-story, steel frame building that was clad in limestone and designed in the Art Deco-style. It measures 386 feet (118 m) wide and 455 feet (139 m) long.[2]
The world's first scheduled rotorcraft airmail service served the Post Office. The building had been designed with a flat roof with underfloor heating to prevent snow and ice. It also had take-off ramps, radio and weather reporting equipment, and fuelling and maintenance facilities. The operation, flown by Kellett KD-1B autogyros of Eastern Air Lines, started on July 6, 1939.
The contract for the route, AM2001, involved five flights per day, six days a week, between the Post Office and Camden Central Airport, 6 miles (9.7 km) away in Camden, New Jersey. The main pilot was Johnny Miller. The contract ended a year later, with 2,634 flights completed, representing 85% of all scheduled flights – a very impressive statistic for the time; however, the contract was not renewed.[3]
21st century
The facility closed on September 29, 2008.[4] when main distribution center activities moved to a new facility adjacent to the Philadelphia International Airport. A new retail location was opened nearby at 3000 Chestnut Street. Ownership of the original complex was transferred to the University of Pennsylvania.
The building has been converted into office space, including the regional headquarters of the Internal Revenue Service.[5] The site immediately south, across Chestnut St, was developed into a complex including an apartment tower, a parking garage, the Cira Green rooftop park, and the FMC Tower. The final part of land, south of Walnut St, became Penn Park.[6]
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