United States Post Office–New London Main facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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US Post Office-New London Main
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Main Post Office
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | 27 Masonic Street, New London, Connecticut |
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| Area | 1.5 acres (0.61 ha) |
| Built | 1932 |
| Architect | Payne & Keefe |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival; Art Deco |
| NRHP reference No. | 86000124 |
| Added to NRHP | January 21, 1986 |
The U.S. Post Office-New London Main is a historic building in New London, Connecticut. It was finished in 1934. This post office was part of a special program during the Great Depression. It helped create jobs for people. It's also special because a private company, Payne & Keefe, designed it. Most post offices back then were designed by the government. This building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986. This means it's an important place worth protecting.
Contents
What Does the New London Post Office Look Like?
New London's main post office is in the middle of the city. It's at the corner of Masonic and Union Streets.
Building Design and Materials
The building has three floors. It has a strong steel frame inside. The first floor is covered with light-colored limestone. The upper floors use brick with limestone decorations. These decorations include tall, flat columns called pilasters. There are also special corner blocks called quoins.
Main Entrance and Lobby
The main entrance is very eye-catching. It has cool bronze panels with eagles on them. These panels show an art style called Art Deco. There are also eagles carved into the limestone. Two unique Art Deco lights stand on stone bases near the door.
Inside, the main lobby is beautifully decorated. It also uses the Art Deco style, but with a Greek theme. The floor is made of colorful marble. On the walls, you can see large paintings called murals. These murals show scenes of whaling, which was a big part of New London's history.
History of the New London Post Office
This important building was designed by a local company named Payne & Keefe. It was built between 1933 and 1934.
How the Building Was Funded
The post office was built because of the Public Buildings Act of 1929. This law changed an older law from 1926. It allowed buildings to be designed by architects who didn't work for the government. This was a way to create jobs during the Great Depression.
The Famous Murals
The beautiful murals inside the post office are very special. Many people think they are some of the best post office murals from the Depression era in Connecticut. They were paid for by a program called the Public Works of Art Project. An artist named Thomas Sergeant LaFarge painted them. They were put up in the building in 1938.
Changes Over Time
The outside of the building has not changed much. In 1977, a loading dock was added. This is where trucks can drop off and pick up mail. The post office also bought the land next door to create more parking space.
