Noveber 4, 1965



Hon. Qeorge A. 3sathers
New sa3ete Offioe Building
Washlngton, D. C. 20240
Dear Georges
tre National Park Service's response to your
inquiry in our behalf with respect to the old Post
Offl Ie iltding is certainly not very encouraging.
Bat I deaot think we wan t to seept this as ftlnal
And osrtainly no one is going to tear the building
down while I an still around.
I still think that this building deserves
historleal treatment and that the old east portion
should be restored and reoonstruoted as the Gov-
ernors a house, and that the more modern wast portion
be used for related historical purposes.
Cordially,


Herbert Z. Wolfe
Chairman










UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20240



OCT 5 965
Dear Senator Smathers:

Thank you for your letter of September 14 concerning your interest
in the utilization of the Old Post Office and Customhouse, in
St. Augustine, Florida.

I share your interest in the future of this structure and have
already asked the National Park Service to undertake thorough
architectural and historical studies of the building. When these
have been completed, which should be within a fairly brief time,
I shall be glad to advise you of their findings.

Thank you for letting me have your thoughts concerning the
utilization of the old structure. Your comments regarding my
recent appearance in St. Augustine during the wuadricentennial
Celebration are appreciated.

Sincerely yoursyc?




secretary of Interior

Hon. George A. Smathers
National Quadricentennial Commission
St. Augustine, Florida







UNITED STATES
2 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20240



OCT 211965
Dear Senator Smathers:

As promised in our letter of October 5 to you concerning the Old
Post Office and Customhouse in St. Augustine, Florida, we wish to
advise you with regard to our views on the future of this structure.

In accordance with the Act of August 27, 1935 (49 Stat. 885), as
amended, we have undertaken architectural and historical studies
of this building to determine whether it is a historic structure
of national significance within the meaning of the Historic Sites
Act of August 21, 1935 (49 Stat. 666), and worthy of preservation.
The field investigation of these matters was conducted by the National
Board on National Parks, Historic Sites, Buildings, and Monuments.
This body has concluded that the Old Post Office and Customhouse is
not of national significance. The Board, moreover, did not recommend
the structure for retention by the Federal Goverrment. However, the
Board did recommend, as an advisory suggestion that the structure,
whose disposition is in the hands of the General Services Administration,
be considered by that agency for placement in the Federal Surplus
Property program and that an attempt be made to find some use for the
building by a State or local governmental body which would preserve
it. If such use could not be found, the Board recommended that the
structure then be demolished.

In these circumstances, we regret that we cannot give a more favorable
response to your suggestion that the structure be accepted for admin-
istration by the National Park Service as an information and exhibition
center. We hope that the foregoing information will be helpful, and
we again want to thank you for your interest in this matter.

Sincerely yours,

(sgd) Kenneth Holum

Assistant Secretary of the Interior

Hon. George A. Smathers
National Quadricentennial Commission
St. Augustine, Florida