United States Post Office (Schenectady, New York) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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U.S. Post Office
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South elevation and west profile, 2008
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| Location | 29 Jay St. Schenectady, NY |
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| Built | 1912 |
| Architect | James Knox Taylor, John Ryder |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| MPS | US Post Offices in New York State, 1858-1943, TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 88002429 |
| Added to NRHP | 1989 |
The U.S. Post Office in Schenectady, New York, is an important building. It is located at Jay and Liberty streets. This is just north of the City Hall. The post office handles mail for several ZIP codes in the city.
This building was constructed in 1912. It is made of brick and designed in the Classical Revival style. A large addition was built in 1933. At that time, the main entrance was moved to Jay Street. The building's design, especially its arched windows, even inspired the look of the nearby City Hall. Both buildings were recognized for their history in 1978. The post office was then listed on its own in 1989.
Contents
Discovering the Post Office Building
The post office building takes up most of its city block. It is in a busy area with many shops and government buildings. The ground around it is flat.
Outside the Building: A Closer Look
The building is shaped like a rectangle. The front and side facing south and west are covered in limestone. The other parts are made of yellow brick. The center of the building sticks out a bit. This part is called a pavilion. It has wings on its north and south sides. The south wing holds the main entrance.
Both wings have round-arched windows. These windows are separated by columns that look like they are part of the wall. These are called Ionic columns. The old main entrance, on the Liberty Street side, has Corinthian columns that stand freely. At the top of the building, there is a decorative railing called a balustrade.
Inside the Building: What You See
When you step inside, you enter the lobby. The bottom part of the walls has green marble. The middle part of the walls has white marble, called wainscoting. There is also a white marble staircase with an iron railing.
The ceiling is high and made of plaster. It has fancy decorations called molding. These include small tooth-like blocks called dentils and scroll-shaped parts called modillions. Each decorative column, or pilaster, has an eagle design. Bronze mailboxes and oak wood decorations complete the inside look.
The History of Mail in Schenectady
The first post office in Schenectady opened in 1793. Back then, mail traveled by stagecoach from Albany to places further west. People had to go to the post office to pick up their mail. Home delivery did not start until 1887.
Choosing a New Home for the Mail
The post office moved several times over the years. In 1912, the current spot was chosen. Schenectady was a growing industrial city. It needed a large, new post office. The Treasury Department's main architect, James Knox Taylor, designed it. He chose the Classical Revival style.
This style was common for post offices in cities like Schenectady. However, it was unusual for Schenectady itself. Only the county courthouse and a few small banks used this style.
Expanding the Post Office Building
In 1933, the Post Office decided to make the building bigger. This showed they believed Schenectady would keep growing. This was interesting because mail income was actually going down due to the Great Depression. John Ryder was the architect who redesigned the building. He made sure the new parts matched the original style very well.
The inside of the building was updated in the 1960s. This was the only major change to the building since it was first built.
