United States Post Office–Norwich Main facts for kids
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US Post Office-Norwich Main
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | 340 Main Street, Norwich, Connecticut |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1905 |
| Architect | Taylor, James Knox |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| Part of | Downtown Norwich Historic District (ID85000707) |
| NRHP reference No. | 86002271 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | July 17, 1986 |
| Designated CP | April 4, 1985 |
The US Post Office-Norwich Main is an important building in downtown Norwich, Connecticut. You can find it at 340 Main Street. It was built in 1905 and made bigger in 1938. This building is a great example of Classical Revival architecture, which is a style that looks back to ancient Greek and Roman designs. It has many cool details for a post office from that time. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on July 17, 1986. This means it's a special place worth protecting.
Exploring the Norwich Post Office
The Norwich Main Post Office is on the east side of the city's main business area. It sits on the north side of Main Street, between Cliff and Park Streets. It's a tall, single-story building. It was built with a strong steel frame. The outside is covered with limestone and brick.
What Does It Look Like?
The post office has a special roof called a mansard-style roof. A stone railing, called a balustrade, goes around the top. The main entrance sticks out a little from the building. This entrance has three sections. Four tall, fluted columns, called Ionic columns, frame this part. These columns are a classic design element.
Windows are on either side of the entrance. They have fancy stone frames. These frames include brackets and cornices, which are decorative ledges. Inside, the main lobby also has cool details. You'll see Ionic pilasters, which are like flat columns, going up to the ceiling. The ceiling itself has detailed molding.
A Look at Its History
The building was first designed in 1903. A famous architect named James Knox Taylor created the plans. Construction finished in 1905. In 1938, the building got an addition. This new part was designed by Louis A. Simon. The money for this addition came from the Public Works Administration. This was a government program that created jobs during the Great Depression.
The original design by James Knox Taylor was very special. It was one of only six buildings he designed in 1903. This is why it has so many unique details. The 1938 addition used similar materials. While it wasn't as fancy as the original, its design connects the old and new parts well.
