The first post office in Jamestown, New York, was established in 1817, and it was located in Jamestown’s first general store on Main Street. Judge James Prendergast, a federal magistrate, was Jamestown’s first Postmaster, and he served in this position until October 15, 1824. In the years that followed, the Jamestown Post Office moved to several different locations.  It was not until 1959, that a permanent location was established for the Jamestown Post Office in the US Federal Building at East Third and Prendergast Avenues.  The post office occupied 38,960 square feet of the Federal Building. The new building contains offices for various federal agencies, including FBI, military recruiting and a post office. On June 5, 1965 this building was enlarged to include 29 additional offices in Allegany and Cattaraugus counties, making a total of 75 offices served by this Sectional Center in Jamestown. In 2008, the building was renamed Stan Lundine Post Office Building.

Prior to the late 1970s, asbestos was incorporated into numerous materials used in the construction of Jamestown’s Federal Building. Workers who handled materials that contained asbestos, or worked in the vicinity of those who did, are at risk for developing an asbestos-related disease, such as mesothelioma or lung cancer.

Asbestos-containing joint compound (mud) was applied to seal seams between sheets of drywall. Ready-mix joint compound was commonly packaged in five gallon buckets, and it was applied without any additional preparation. After a coat of joint compound dried, it was sanded and another coat was applied. Sanding the joint compound emitted asbestos dust into the air, where it remained for quite some time.

Vinyl asbestos floor tiles (VAT) were used throughout the Federal building in Jamestown. During shipment, some tiles were cracked or broken, which produced asbestos dust that contaminated the box. When a worker opened the box and removed tiles, asbestos dust became airborne. Cutting vinyl asbestos tiles also emitted asbestos fibers and dust into the air.

Many union and non-union laborers who worked on the construction of the U.S. Federal Building and Post Office in Jamestown, New York, were employed by various contractors throughout Western New York. If you or a loved one were once employed as a laborer at the U.S. Federal Building and Post Office and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or lung cancer, we urge you to contact us regarding your legal rights.