James Crews Post Station

This building was constructed by Wesley Elders and then leased by him to the Post Office for a substation in 1953. B.H. Muldrew was the first African American to be station supervisor. He ran the station until he retired in 1961. Mr. Muldrew was also the first African American postal window clerk at Station”B” at 15th & Prospect starting in 1936. Prospect, starting in 1936. The station was named after James Crews, "the 1st Negro to be regularly employed by the Kansas City Post Office." Crews was appointed a substitute Letter carrier in 1883 and worked for the Post office until his retirement in 1930. Part of the building was also used as the Twin City Federal Savings and Loan Association.

Description from the 18th and Vine Architectural Survey Form, Kansas City Landmarks Commission, 1981. Post Office information is from Raimonda Martin-Davis, granddaughter of B.H. Muldrew.

Article on the station opening by The Echo, January 1954.

NEW JAMES CREWS SUBSTATION DEDICATED

A new post office substation  named after the late James C. Crews, the first Negro regular postal employee in Kansas City, was  dedicated  at  1825  Vine St., November 17, 1953, with our own Benjamin H. Muldrew as acting superintendent.

The substation was opened after a brief ceremony starting at 9 a.m., with Mr. Carl R. Johnson, president of the local branch of the NAACP, as master of ceremonies. He said that the opening of this station represented long years of hard work in contacting Congressmen and Senators for support and appearing in many conferences with the Postmaster General under several Administrations supplying necessary in formation why this station was necessary for a growing community.

Alex F. Sachs, postmaster, said the substation was the only one in Kansas City to be named after a postal employee . He stated that the station would fill a long overdue need in the Negro community, and that it would be operated as a first-class substation. It now offers complete postal service, including money orders, parcel, air mail and registry. Sachs said postal saving would later be added to the services.

Mr. Muldrew was introduced by the Postmaster,  and  after  brief   remarks, he, with the crowd, assembled  outside the building and the U. S. flag  was raise at by Harry W. Womack, commander of  the  Wayne  Minor  Post  of the American  Legion,  while  Robert  L. Parker , vice commander, played “The Colors” on the bugle. The  Rev.  Edward S. Foust, pastor of the Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church,  pronounced the benediction.

The station opened  immediately  after the ceremonies, with Muldrew at window No. 1, Joseph Dawson, clerk at window  No. 2,  and  Earl  Taylor,  clerk at window No. 3. Mrs. Sidonia Westbrook was the first customer at Muldrew's  window,  Mrs.  Geneva  Brown, first at Dawson’s, and Robert L. Sweeney was first at Taylor's window.

The Alliance is proud to see that members of the Organization are rendering service at this first P. 0 . Substation named after the first  regular Negro employee who was a letter carrier, and of the selection of B. H. Muldrew, as  acting  superintendent  of  the station.  Muldrew was the first Negro clerk in the local Post Office with 27 years of service.  We  are  hoping  that his position will soon be confirmed  by the department.