Lewiston Main Post Office facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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U.S. Post Office–Lewiston Main
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United States Post Office
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | 49 Ash St., Lewiston, Maine |
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| Area | 0.5 acres (0.20 ha) |
| Built | 1933 |
| Built by | Coath & Goss |
| Architect | James A. Wetmore |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 86000879 |
| Added to NRHP | May 2, 1986 |
The Lewiston Main Post Office is an important building in Lewiston, Maine. You can find it at 49 Ash Street in the heart of downtown Lewiston. This building was constructed in 1933 and later made bigger in 1975. It's a great example of a style called Colonial Revival architecture. Because of its special design and history, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986. This means it's officially recognized as a historic landmark!
Contents
What Makes This Post Office Special?
The Lewiston Main Post Office is just one block east of the main business area in Lewiston. The original part of the building, built in 1933, faces Ash Street. It has two floors and is made from strong steel and concrete. The outside is covered with beautiful stone and brick.
Building Design and Features
The middle part of the building is quite wide, with nine sections. These sections are separated by brick columns called pilasters, which have stone bases and tops. On the first floor, the openings are shaped like rounded arches. The three middle arches are the main entrances, while the other six are windows.
Above the first floor, there's a stone band called an entablature. On top of that is a fancy border with small block-like teeth, known as a dentillated cornice. The very top has a low wall called a parapet with stone railings and brick pillars.
Inside the Post Office
The main part of the building has a large lobby at the front where people can send mail. Behind that is a work area for postal employees. The postmaster's office, where the person in charge works, is on one side. The inside of the building is very well decorated, showing off its historic style.
History of the Lewiston Post Office
This important building was designed by a special team from the United States Department of the Treasury. This team was called the Office of the Supervising Architect. At the time, James A. Wetmore was guiding this office. The post office was built between 1934 and 1935.
Why the Design is So Detailed
The building has many detailed decorations. This might be because more people were hired to work in the Treasury Department's design office around that time. This happened because of a law passed in 1931 called the Federal Employment Stabilization Act. This law aimed to create jobs during a tough economic time.
Later Additions to the Building
In 1975, a new section was added to the back of the building. This modern part helps with the services the post office provides today.
