Mullett-Smith Press on A. B. Mullett

One book, A.B. Mullett, His influence on American Architecture and Historic Preservation, was professionally prepared by The Oxford Group in Norway, Maine. We have notes from the National Archives papers on all of A. B. Mullett's buildings. We also have original papers of A.B. Mullett. These will not be put up directly but only by purchase. Individuals may purchase notes on specific building's price determined by number of pages in documents desired. San Francisco Mint information is available for $25 by e-mail, $35 for snail mail. The U.S. Treasury files are $40. Portland Oregon files are $20. Several buildings in Maine by A. B. Mullett have fewer pages and would be $10 to $15. Please let me know of your interest in subscription or printed copies or e-mail copies of notes on specific buildings by sending me word. e-mail me at:

mspress@mullett-smithpress.com

The North Wing interior of the
U. S. Treasury building was damaged by fire. Funds were raised by Treasury historical Association to finish the restoration after the fire damage. The north wing was closed for 2000-2001 for restoration. It is now open again. U. S. Treasury Building, Washington, DC north view. Click on this photo for Treasury tour. You may visit the new Treasury Historical web pages.

A. B. Mullett: His Buildings Then and Now by D. Mullett Smith

The information regarding original construction of each government building comes mostly from the National Archives in Washington, DC. A compilation of notes and references have been prepared by the author. Illustrations will include original photos from construction period and photos taken more recently of the buildings as they appear today or at least as they appeared in the last 10 years. Anyone living near one of the Mullett buildings or knowing of recent renovations or changes in use may submit the information to mspress and it will be included in up-dates with the submitter's name.

Information on the Pioneer Post Office/ Courthouse in Portland, Oregon. Government Services Agency is in charge of maintaining many historic buildings. "Preservation" magazine produced by National Trust for Historic Preservation has an article on the GSA executive officer Robert Peck, by Andrea Oppenheimer Dean called "Right Time, Right Place" in the July/August 1996 issue. However, this is an incomplete picture of GSA activities. They have done an excellent job on restoration and preservation of Port Huron, MI and OEOB in DC but that work was started under the Reagan administration. They knew how to properly research historic construction, and hire construction engineers who had a background in historic preservation. As kind as I would like to be to GSA for what they have done, their intentions for San Francisco Mint Museum and Pioneer Courthouse in Portland, OR remain to be seen.
Port Huron, Mi. Custom House by A. B. Mullett Custom House, Post Office at Port Huron, MI.

For an online tour of a building designed by A. B. Mullett try The renamed Eisenhower Executive Office Building, formerly the Old State War and Navy Building and then named the Old Executive Offices Building. If you have trouble reaching this site, go to http://www.whitehouse.gov/ and click through the tours selection until you reach the Old Executive Office Building site. It begins with a welcome from the President and then give a tour of the building. It sometimes has a very interesting historic tour also, so do look for it. You may use this site to find out about getting tours of the building on Saturdays, preregistration is required for in person tours.

Art Historians and Historic Preservationists take notice!!! What is the future of the Old San Francisco Mint? The building is now in "moth balls" but it is supposed to be kept up in minor ways to ensure it does not deteriorate while decisions are made for its future. The summer of 1998 while visiting San Francisco, GSA officers agreed to show me the blue prints they just discovered were piled in a window well in an attic room. They have moved these blue prints to a flat storage drawer to protect them. Many of the originals of these blue prints appear to be missing from National Archives and the Western branch office. As for the building? GSA wants to transfer ownership to the city of San Francsico. The building is secure. However lack of maintenance has resulted in decorations chipping away due to leaks in the roof and gutters. Rain water getting into the stone on the facade is causing deterioration. At present it is closed and exhibit equipment moved out to other museums or Mints. This building withstood the 1906 earthquake and the more recent one in the 1990s without a single coin falling to the ground. It was the first building to be "floated" on a base foundation that isolated it from the surrounding earth. A. B. Mullett studied technologies, invented a design of his own to float the building. He used theories based on his understanding of how boats stay afloat when there is a major storm. See the book, A.B. Mullett, His influence on American Architecture and Historic Preservation on our catalogue page. This book tells more of these buildings.

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