A light that once hung in the main lobby of Bowling Green’s original post office has returned to nearly its exact spot in the city’s Administrative Services Building.

“I thought I’d bring it back home,” said former postal worker Hal “Bill” Lee, who salvaged the light when the post office interior was being renovated.

It has hung in his basement for more than 40 years.

Lee donated the light back to the city when he learned the façade of the post office would be incorporated into the new city building.

The donated light.

The light and a plaque marking Lee’s donation were unveiled Nov. 2.

Lee worked for the post office from 1955-1987.

When the post office, located at 305 N. Main St., was being updated with fluorescent lights, the old fixtures were being thrown out into the side yard, Lee said.

He talked to the foreman, who told him to help himself.

“I couldn’t see it going to scrap,” he said.

The light ended up in the game room of Lee’s basement.

When they made the former post office into the city building, “I thought, hey, it would be nice to have a piece of history back in it if they were interested,” Lee said.

He contacted great-niece Louise Estep, who worked for the city, to ask if there would be interest in the light.

Estep said she took a picture to city administrators, who said they absolutely wanted it.

She said Lee told her the light is hung very near its original location.

“It’s like divine intervention,” she said.

The light is hanging in the council’s chambers, which was the post office’s lobby.

“We thought it was appropriate to display the light in its original location,” said Mayor Mike Aspacher.

The light no longer works, he said.

“I think this really completes the process of recognizing our responsibility to restore the façade of the building … and recognize the historical relevance of this location,” he said.

Mary Lee said she liked the way it looked when it was hung in the couple’s basement. The family has not replaced it.

“I think it was great that he decided to do it,” she said about her husband’s donation.

The couple have been married 70 years.

“We’re certainly very appreciative of their very generous donation,” said city Administrator Lori Tretter. “As soon as they saw the historic façade being saved … they got in contact with us to bring it here. It’s really a nice way to preserve the history of this place. …”

Lee said he also took an old school-style round light, which he has kept.