United States Post Office–Williamstown Main facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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US Post Office–Williamstown Main
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US Post Office
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | 56 Spring St. Williamstown, Massachusetts |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1932 |
| Architect | James A. Wetmore |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 86002243 |
| Added to NRHP | July 17, 1986 |
The US Post Office–Williamstown Main is a special old building in Williamstown, Massachusetts. It's a post office located at 56 Spring Street. This building was finished in 1932. It's a great example of a building style called Classical Revival. Because of its unique design, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986. This list helps protect important historical places in the United States.
Contents
Discovering the Williamstown Post Office
The Williamstown Main Post Office is right in the middle of the town's main shopping area. You can find it on the east side of Spring Street, across from Bank Street. It's a rectangular building that looks like old Greek or Roman temples, which is typical for the Neo-Classical style.
What Does It Look Like?
The building is made from brick, laid in a pattern called Flemish bond. It sits on a strong granite base. You'll also see beautiful marble details all over the building.
Entrance and Special Features
To get inside, you walk up granite steps with fancy iron railings. The main door has a special roof over it, called a gabled portico. This roof is held up by tall, round columns known as Tuscan columns.
The windows are interesting too! Some are shaped like round arches, while others are rectangular with special brickwork above them. The very top of the building has a low wall, called a parapet. This wall has wide brick sections that alternate with decorative balustrades, which look like small fences.
Inside the Lobby
When you step inside the lobby, you'll see a floor made of quarry marble tiles. These tiles have marble strips that add to the design. The lower part of the walls has marble panels, topped with smooth plaster. There are a few modern additions, like a glass entrance area and a ramp to help people with disabilities.
The Post Office's Story
The United States government built this post office in 1932. This was during a tough time called the Great Depression. The government started many building projects like this one. The main goal was to create jobs for people who needed work.
Before This Building
Before this grand building, Williamstown's post office had been around since 1798. For many years, the post office was usually just a small part of another business in town. This new building was the first time the town had a dedicated, stand-alone post office.
Who Designed and Built It?
The building was designed by an architect named James Wetmore. A company called New England General Contractors Company built it. The land where the post office now stands used to be the site of the town's high school.
 | Dorothy Vaughan |
 | Charles Henry Turner |
 | Hildrus Poindexter |
 | Henry Cecil McBay |
