United States Post Office and Courthouse (Columbus, Georgia) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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U.S. Post Office and Courthouse
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 Location in Georgia (U.S. state)
Location in the United States
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| Location | Columbus, Georgia |
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| Built | 1933 |
| Architect | Edwards & Sayward; E. Oren Smith |
| MPS | Columbus MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 80001207 |
| Added to NRHP | September 29, 1980 |
The U.S. Post Office and Courthouse in Columbus, Georgia, is a special building. It was built in 1933 and has two important jobs. It works as a post office where people send and receive mail. It also serves as a federal courthouse, a place where legal matters are handled.
This historic building is located at 120 12th Street in Columbus, Georgia. A famous architect named William Augustus Edwards from Atlanta helped design it. He was known for designing many important buildings, including courthouses and university buildings across the South. Because of its history and design, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 29, 1980. This means it is recognized as a significant part of American history.
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What is This Building For?
The U.S. Post Office and Courthouse is unique because it serves two big purposes. It helps people with their everyday mail needs and also helps make sure laws are followed.
A Place for Mail
First, it is a post office. A post office is where you go to mail letters and packages. It is also where mail carriers pick up letters to deliver to homes and businesses. People can buy stamps, send money orders, and get other postal services there. This building helped connect people in Columbus to the rest of the country through mail.
A Place for Justice
Second, it is a federal courthouse. A courthouse is a building where legal cases are heard. Judges work here to make decisions about laws. Juries listen to facts and help decide if someone is guilty or innocent. People go to court to solve disagreements or when someone is accused of breaking a law. This building helps keep things fair and orderly in the community.
Building History and Design
The U.S. Post Office and Courthouse was built during a very important time in American history. Its design shows the style of buildings from that era.
Building in the 1930s
The building was finished in 1933. This was during the Great Depression, a time when many people did not have jobs. The government started projects like building post offices and courthouses to create jobs. These projects were part of the "New Deal," a plan to help the country recover. Building this post office and courthouse helped put people to work in Columbus.
Meet the Architect: William Augustus Edwards
The main architect for this building was William Augustus Edwards. He was a very talented designer. Edwards designed many buildings in the southern United States. He created nine courthouses in South Carolina. He also designed academic buildings for 12 different colleges and universities. These schools were in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. His work helped shape the look of many important public buildings.
Why is This Building Important?
The U.S. Post Office and Courthouse is more than just an old building. It holds a special place in history and helps us understand the past.
Protecting History
In 1980, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of places in the United States that are important to history. When a building is on this list, it means it has special value. It helps protect the building so future generations can learn from it. This building shows us how government services were provided in the past. It also shows the architectural styles of the 1930s.
