Old U.S. Post Office (Niles, Michigan) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Old US Post Office
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Old U.S. Post Office, 2010
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | 322 E. Main St., Niles, Michigan |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1909 |
| Built by | Max Stock |
| Architect | James Knox Taylor |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 85002152 |
| Added to NRHP | September 12, 1985 |
The Old U.S. Post Office in Niles, Michigan is a beautiful building. It was built in 1909. This building has a special style called Classical Revival. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. This means it is an important historical place.
Building History in Niles
By 1909, the town of Niles had more than 7,000 people. They needed a bigger and newer post office. A local politician named Edward LaRue Hamilton helped get money for this building.
The first stone for the building was put in place in June 1909. The design came from the office of James Knox Taylor. He was the main architect for the U.S. government at that time. Max Stock, from St. Joseph, Michigan, was chosen to build it.
Later, the building was made even bigger. A part was added to the back in 1937. Another, larger part was built in 1956. The building was used as Niles' main post office until 1982. Then, a much larger post office was built.
In 1983, the city of Niles took over the building. In 2016, there was a plan to fix it up. The idea was to use some of the space for a government office. One city council member said it was a "classy looking building." Today, the building is being changed into apartments. This work was expected to finish in early 2021.
What the Building Looks Like
The Old Post Office building has one main floor. It is built in the Classical Revival style. The outside walls are made of light brown bricks and light-colored stone. It also has a full basement and a roof made of copper. The building sits on a gently sloped piece of land.
The building has three main parts. The first part was built in 1909. The second part is a wing added to the back in 1937. This part looks very similar to the original building. The third part is a large, modern addition built in 1956.
The two older parts have light brown bricks. They sit on a strong foundation of granite blocks. The stone details on the outside are made of limestone. This includes a fancy border near the roof. There are also stone frames around the windows. Bronze lights are placed on both sides of the main entrance.
The 1956 addition almost doubles the size of the building. But it is set back a little and is not as tall. It also uses similar materials. This helps the original, older part of the building still look the most important.
