United States Post Office–Medford Main facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
US Post Office–Medford Main
|
|
 |
|
 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Medford, Massachusetts |
|---|---|
| Built | 1937 |
| Architect | Louis A. Simon |
| NRHP reference No. | 86001346 |
| Added to NRHP | June 18, 1986 |
The US Post Office–Medford Main is an old and important post office building. You can find it at 20 Forest Street in Medford, Massachusetts. It was built in 1937. This building is a great example of projects funded by the Public Works Administration. This was a special program in the 1930s that created jobs. The post office was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986. This means it's recognized as a historically important place.
Contents
Discovering the Medford Post Office Building
The main Medford Post Office stands on the west side of Forest Street. It's just north of the city's main shopping area. The front part of the building is made of brick. It has seven sections and sits on a tall foundation.
What Does the Building Look Like?
The middle three sections of the building stick out more. They also go higher than the rest. A sloped roof with fancy marble decorations sits on top of these sections. The outer parts of this middle section have tall windows. The main entrance is in the very center. You reach it by walking up granite steps. The windows on the sides of the building are set back a bit. They have marble sills and tops.
Inside the Post Office Lobby
When you go inside, you'll find a beautiful lobby. The floor is made of shiny terrazzo marble. The lower parts of the walls are covered in marble too. Dark wood is used for other parts of the interior. The area where people get their mail is on the right. Above this area, there's a special painting. This painting shows Medford's history, including shipbuilding and making rum.
History of the Medford Post Office Construction
The main architect who designed this building was Arthur Blakeslee. It was built in 1937. The money for its construction came from the Public Works Administration (PWA). The PWA was a government program. It helped put people to work during the 1930s. The building followed the PWA's rules for design and construction.
Why Was It Built on a Side Street?
The PWA usually built post offices on busy main streets. But this one is on a side street. This was a new idea for the PWA. It allowed mail trucks to access the mail handling area from the side. This was easier than having them go to the back of the building.
