Building Memories: Bank keeps post office’s history alive

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The facade old post office has been fixed up will become Naperville Bank Trust with smaller post office

The facade of the old post office has been fixed up and will become the Naperville Bank & Trust with a smaller post office attached on the south end in Naperville on Wednesday, March 28, 2012. | Steven Buyansky~Sun-Times Media

Customers front lobby Naperville’s WashingtStreet post office. This phoalso shows WPA Mural hanging wall. | Sun-Times Medifile photo

Customers in the front lobby of Naperville’s Washington Street post office. This photo also shows the WPA Mural hanging on the wall. | Sun-Times Media file photo

Postal Workers sort mail behind scenes Naperville’s WashingtSt. post office. | Sun-Times Medifile photo

Postal Workers sort mail behind the scenes at Naperville’s Washington St. post office. | Sun-Times Media file photo

This is whWashingtStreet Post office looked like just after 1970s addition. | Sun-Times Medifile photo

This is what the Washington Street Post office looked like just after the 1970s addition. | Sun-Times Media file photo

The WashingtStreet Post Office soafter constructi1940. | Submitted

The Washington Street Post Office soon after construction in 1940. | Submitted

People were given plastic hard hats Wednesday as they entered lobby downtown Naperville post office building 5 S. WashingtSt. During

People were given plastic hard hats Wednesday as they entered the lobby of the downtown Naperville post office building at 5 S. Washington St. During the event, participants got an inside look at plans to turn the building into a bank. The facility would

A cornerstone old post office WashingtStreet building indicates its commissi1939 Naperville Wednesday March 28 2012. | Steven Buyansky~Sun-Times Media

A cornerstone on the old post office on Washington Street building indicates the its commission in 1939 in Naperville on Wednesday, March 28, 2012. | Steven Buyansky~Sun-Times Media

The front lobby new Naperville Bank Trust inside old Post Office Downtown Naperville Friday April 20 2012. | Brian Powers~Sun-Times

The front lobby of the new Naperville Bank and Trust inside the old Post Office in Downtown Naperville on Friday, April 20, 2012. | Brian Powers~Sun-Times Media

Gwenn Lloyd (left) JoAnn Monge both Naperville chas they explore downtown Naperville Post Office 5 S. WashingtSt. Naperville Bank

Gwenn Lloyd (left) and JoAnn Monge, both of Naperville, chat as they explore the downtown Naperville Post Office at 5 S. Washington St. Naperville Bank & Trust, which purchased the building as its new home, plans to keep it an active postal location. Jeff Cagle / For Sun-Times Media

A few original Post Office Boxes were saved moved innew Naperville Bank Trust Friday April 20 2012. | Brian Powers~Sun-Times

A few of the original Post Office Boxes were saved and moved into the new Naperville Bank and Trust on Friday, April 20, 2012. | Brian Powers~Sun-Times Media

Foreman Chris Blumk(left) electrician Brian Ziarko Lyon's Electric discuss their installatielectrical system as they stwhwill be lobby Naperville Bank

Foreman Chris Blumka (left) and electrician Brian Ziarko of Lyon's Electric discuss their installation of the electrical system as they stand in what will be the lobby of the Naperville Bank & Trust in the old post office on Washington Street in Naperville on Wednesday, March 28, 2012. | Steven Buyansky~Sun-Times Media

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Joni Hirsch Blackman, columnist for The Naperville Sun

When Gordy Coleman started carrying mail in Naperville, he worked on the far south side — the Highlands neighborhood, just south of Edward Hospital. “It was a new territory, so there weren’t many trees. You burned in the summer and froze in the winter,” he …