United States Post Office (Somersworth, New Hampshire) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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U.S. Post Office-Somersworth Main
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 Location in New Hampshire
Location in the United States
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| Location | 2 Government Way, Somersworth, New Hampshire |
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| Area | 0.3 acres (0.12 ha) |
| Built | 1931 |
| Architect | Office of the Supervising Architect under James A. Wetmore, N.H. Turnbull |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival, Georgian Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 86002246 |
| Added to NRHP | July 17, 1986 |
The U.S. Post Office-Somersworth Main is the main post office for the city of Somersworth, New Hampshire. This important building is located at 2 Government Way in downtown Somersworth. It was finished in 1931.
The post office was designed by the Office of the Supervising Architect under James A. Wetmore. It is built in the Georgian Revival style. This building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986. This means it is a special place recognized for its history.
Contents
What Does the Somersworth Post Office Look Like?
The Somersworth Post Office stands in the middle of downtown Somersworth. You can find it where Government Way and Fore Street meet. It is a one-story building.
Building Materials and Design
The post office is made of brick. It has nice marble details around it. The roof is shaped like a pyramid, called a hip roof.
There are three marble windows on the roof. These are called dormers. They are located over the main front part of the building.
Main Entrance and Inside Details
The front door has special columns called fluted Ionic pilasters. These are flat columns with grooves. Above the door, there is a round window shaped like a fan. The windows on either side of the door have the same fan shape.
Inside, the main lobby has orange floor tiles. The lower parts of the walls are covered in marble. Wood trim is around the windows. The rest of the walls are smooth plaster.
Old light fixtures with frosted glass globes were once used. These have been replaced with newer, more energy-efficient lights. The old globes can still be seen in the basement.
Why Was This Post Office Built?
The Somersworth Post Office was designed by James A. Wetmore. It was finished in 1931. This building was part of a bigger plan.
Federal Government's Plan
The United States government wanted to have a stronger presence. They wanted to be more visible in smaller towns and cities. Building new post offices was one way to do this.
Unique Design for Somersworth
The basic shape of this post office was a standard design. The Postal Service used a few main plans for many buildings. However, the outside details of the Somersworth Post Office were made special for this location. James A. Wetmore designed these unique features.
