In Lebanon, Tennessee, the Wilson County Government is selling a building that is listed on the historic registry. 203 East Main Street (Lebanon, TN) is the address of the city’s very first U.S. Federal Post Office building.
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Further Details on the Sealed Bid Process
The building is being sold through a sealed bid process. When the bids are opened, they will be reviewed by the Wilson County Budget Committee on December 8, 2022. The Budget Committee reserves the right to accept any bid or reject all bids.
Sealed bids will be accepted in the Wilson County Finance Office on December 2nd, 5th and 6th (2022). They must be turned in by Noon on December 6th, 2022. Clearly marked with "GBID 730".
Scroll down for more details on the bid process or CLICK HERE to download or open a PDF displaying the pertinent information regarding the purchase of the historic building. To see the complete description of the building CLICK HERE.
Scroll down for details that were released as a public notice...
WILSON COUNTY, TENNESSEE
The Wilson County Finance Director Purchasing Agent is requesting sealed bids from qualified vendors for: RFP-GBID-730
The sale of real property located at Old Post Office – 203 East Main St. Lebanon, TN
(Former Wilson County Election Commission)
For Your Information:
The process to bid will be as follows:
A. The property will be advertised November 2, 2022, thru December 2, 2022.
B. Sealed bids will be accepted in the Wilson County Finance Office on December 2nd, 5th and 6th. They must be turned in by Noon on December 6th, 2022. Clearly marked with GBID 730.
C. On December 6th, 2022, the Finance Director will open all bids at 1:00PM in the Conference Room of the Wilson County Courthouse.
D. The bids will be reviewed by the Wilson County Budget Committee at their regularly scheduled meeting on December 8th, 2022.
E. The Budget Committee reserves the right to accept any bid or reject all bids.
F. Wilson County Government recognizes the historical and sentimental value of our buildings and therefore desires the integrity of the Old Post Office remain intact. The future of this building will be discussed at length during the meeting as we hope the successful bidder plans for limited modifications so that this building may remain on the historical registry.
If you are interested in seeing this property, please contact Mr. Robert Baines, Wilson County Director of Operations at 615-444-1383.
This property is being sold as is, where is.
Property Specifications:
- Details available at wilsoncountytn.gov
All sealed bids will be accepted before interested parties at time indicated or shortly thereafter in the Wilson County Finance Department, 228 East Main Street, Room 205, P. O. Box 248, Lebanon, TN. 37088-0248. The Wilson County Finance Director/Purchasing Agent reserves the right to reject any or all bids, to accept any portion of any bid, or to accept other than the bid with the lowest cost meeting specifications.
"Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, no person shall, on the grounds of race, color or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance."
WILSON COUNTY FINANCE DIRECTOR/PURCHASING AGENT
More on the Historic Post Office
Lebanon was incorporated over 220-years ago in 1801 and once had a population of around 1,000 residents. As the industrialization of America occurred throughout the country, small communities throughout the U.S. began to grow exponentially. Lebanon was one of the many areas to feel that growth, which equaled a population increase rate of over 87% between 1900 and 1910. It was that growth that qualified Lebanon for free city-wide mail delivery.
A historic marker outside the East Main Street structure shows that Congressman Cordell Hull secured funding of $50,000 to build what would become Lebanon’s first Federal Post Office building. Several years later, the cornerstone was laid on October 30, 1913. At that point, the city was closing in on roughly 4,000 residents.
Chief Supervising Architect Oscar Wenderoth designed the Beaux Arts style building that sits only one block off the Wilson County square. Wenderoth designed and assisted with a large number of important government buildings across the country in the early 1900’s, many of which were Federal Post Offices. In 1912 President William Taft appointed Wenderoth head of the U.S. Supervising Architect's Office.
Contractor James Corse completed construction on the downtown Lebanon Post Office building in 1915.
For those who have been inside the 7,000+ square foot building, there are historically significant touches that include pink and gray marble from East Tennessee on the walls and floors.
The building was placed on the National Park Service Register of Historic Places in 1999 and named as a contributing structure to the Lebanon Commercial Historic District.
Wilson County recognizes the historical and sentimental value of the building that first opened their doors to Lebanon residents 107-years-ago. The desire is for the building to remain on the historical registry and to keep the integrity of the Old Post Office intact and alive.
