West Allis Post Office facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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West Allis Post Office
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West Allis Post Office
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| Location | 7440 W. Greenfield Ave. West Allis, Wisconsin |
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| Built | 1939 |
| Architect | Neal A. Melick/Louis A. Simon |
| Architectural style | Modern Movement |
| NRHP reference No. | 01000174 |
| Added to NRHP | February 23, 2001 |
The West Allis Post Office is a special old building in West Allis, Wisconsin. It was built a long time ago in 1939 and is known for its unique design. Because it's so important to history and architecture, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2001. This means it's officially recognized as a place worth protecting!
Contents
A Historic Building in West Allis
Built During a Special Time
This post office was built between 1939 and 1940. It was part of a big government program called the New Deal. The New Deal helped the country recover from a tough economic time. One of its projects was the Works Progress Administration (WPA). The WPA hired many people for public works, like building this post office.
A Special Building Style
The West Allis Post Office has a unique look. Its style is called Stripped Classical. Imagine a classic, grand building, but made simpler and more modern. It combines the strong, balanced look of Neoclassical style with the clean, simple lines of Moderne style.
The building has two stories and is made of brown brick. It sits on a sturdy granite base. The roof is low and gently sloped. The front door and windows are very tall, reaching both stories. They are placed evenly, making the building look balanced. This design might remind you of an ancient Greek temple. Right above the main door, there's a cool sculpture of an eagle surrounded by stars.
Art Inside the Post Office
When you step inside, you'll see beautiful details. The walls in the lobby have marble at the bottom, like a fancy wall covering. The rest of the walls are smooth plaster. The floor is made of beige terrazzo tiles. Terrazzo is a special kind of floor made from chips of marble or glass set in cement. This floor has a neat red border around it.
The lobby also features two large paintings by an artist named Frances Foy. She painted them in 1942. Their names are Wisconsin Wild Flowers - Spring and Wisconsin Wild Flowers - Autumn. These murals show the beautiful plants that grow in Wisconsin.
Frances Foy painted these murals for another New Deal project called the Section of Fine Arts. The government wanted to make public buildings more beautiful. They also wanted to help artists find work during that difficult time. About one percent of the cost of public buildings was set aside for art. The goal was to decorate buildings with art that connected to the local area. This art was meant to make people feel good and proud of their community.
