as a result of the town's rapid growth, a request to the u.s. post office to establish a branch there in june 1890 was quickly obliged and the community was officially dubbed carpenter. however, the town never attained a population of over 50, and the post office closed its doors after only a year. after the closure of its post office, carpenter built a company store and a combination boarding house/restaurant. book cliff company stone cutters and masons constructed several buildings and many foundations at carpenter, using stone from the company quarry near the cliffs. one of the finest examples of a building made of book cliff sandstone is the fruita, colorado catholic church.