James T. Foley United States Courthouse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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United States Post Office,
Court House, and Custom House |
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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West (front) elevation and south profile, 2019
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 Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | 445 Broadway, Albany, New York |
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| Architect | Gander, Gander & Gander, Norman R. Sturgis, Electus Darwin Litchfield |
| Architectural style | Art Deco |
| Part of | Downtown Albany Historic District (ID80002579) |
| NRHP reference No. | 10005000 |
| Added to NRHP | February 28, 2020 |
The James T. Foley United States Courthouse is a cool stone building in downtown Albany, New York. It was built in the 1930s. This building is a courthouse for the U.S. government.
It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. This list helps protect important places. In 2020, it was added to the list on its own. It was first known as the United States Post Office, Court House, and Custom House.
Today, the building holds courtrooms and offices for federal judges. It also has offices for the U.S. Attorney and other federal law enforcement groups. For 60 years, it was also Albany's main post office.
Contents
Building History: A Look Back
Why Was This Building Needed?
In 1930, the U.S. government decided to build a new federal building in Albany. They wanted a place for a post office, a courthouse, and a custom house. A custom house is where taxes on imported goods are handled.
The government chose a spot on Broadway and Maiden Lane. They tore down old buildings to make space.
Who Designed and Built It?
A local architecture firm, Gander, Gander & Gander, designed the building. They worked with Norman R. Sturgis. A famous New York City architect, Electus Darwin Litchfield, also helped with the design.
They designed the building in the Art Deco style. This style was popular then. It mixed modern looks with fancy decorations. The architects called their design "modern classical."
When Was It Built?
The plans were finished in 1931. Construction started in 1932. A special ceremony happened on August 18, 1933, to lay the cornerstone. The building was finished in 1934.
It cost about $3.3 million to build. This included buying the land and the construction itself. The building even had a bridge connecting it to the nearby train station. This made it easy to deliver mail to the post office inside.
How Did It Get Its Name?
In 1980, the building was recognized as an important part of the Downtown Albany Historic District. Later, in 1988, it was renamed to honor Judge James Thomas Foley.
Judge Foley was a federal judge for 40 years. He was appointed by President Harry S. Truman. He served as the chief judge for many years.
What's Inside Now?
The post office moved out of the building in 1995. Now, the building is home to several important federal offices. These include federal courts, the United States Marshals Service, and the FBI.
Architecture: A Closer Look at the Design
Art Deco Style and Materials
The courthouse is a great example of Art Deco architecture. This style uses smooth, modern shapes but also has fancy, detailed decorations. The architects used high-quality materials.
The lower part of the walls is made of strong granite. Above that, the building is covered with beautiful Vermont marble. The building has two open spaces inside called light courts. These let natural light into the building.
Tall, narrow windows go up the five-story building. Black glass panels separate the windows on the outside.
Cool Details on the Outside
The front of the building, facing Broadway, has two entrances. Each entrance has a huge eagle carved from marble. These eagles are over eight feet tall! A sculptor named Albert T. Stewart carved them.
Behind the eagles are cool aluminum screens. They show symbols of different government departments. You can see images for the Navy, Agriculture, Labor, and the Post Office. There are also stars for the original colonies and the New York state seal.
A carved band, called a frieze, goes around three sides of the building. On the front, it shows scenes of postal service work. On the north side, it shows customs duties. On the south side, it shows the work of the courts. The carvings are very deep so you can see them from the street.
Fancy Interior Design
The inside of the building is very grand, typical of the Art Deco style. Six different types of marble are used on the walls and floors. The ceilings are decorated with fancy plaster, medallions, and stepped designs.
When you enter, you walk into public lobbies with marble walls. The floors have marble mosaic designs. In the main lobby, there's a gold plaster medallion of the United States Seal on the ceiling.
Murals and Famous Americans
The main lobby has nine sections, each with a ceiling mural. Artist Ethel M. Parsons painted these in 1935. They show the seven continents, the North Pole, and the United States.
Between the murals are plaster plaques by Italian artist Enea Biafora. These show famous Americans like Abraham Lincoln and George Washington. These images were inspired by early U.S. postage stamps.
Staircases and Courtrooms
Each of the five floors has elevator lobbies and public staircases. The stairs are made of different types of marble. The railings are made of cast aluminum and have cool designs. These designs show things related to the building, like an airplane or the scales of justice.
The two original courtrooms still have many of their first features. They have detailed wood walls and plaster ceilings. Courtroom No. 1 has special wood paneling with unique wood designs. It also has decorative aluminum grilles.
Courtroom No. 2 has walnut wood walls and Art Deco wall lights. When the post office moved out in 1995, some of their old space was changed to make new offices and another courtroom.
Important Dates for the Courthouse
- 1930: Congress approved money for a new federal building.
- 1932: Construction started on the building.
- 1934: The building was finished.
- 1980: The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1988: The building was renamed to honor Judge James Thomas Foley.
- 1995: The U.S. Postal Service moved out of the building.
