Nomination for US Post Office--Palmer Main

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

Form No. 10-306 (Rev. 10-74) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR FOR NPS USE ONLY NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES RECEIVED OCT 3| 1985 INVENTORY -- NOMINATION FORM DATE ENTERED DEC | 2 1985 FOR FEDERAL PROPERTIES SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOW TO COMPLETE NATIONAL REGISTER FORMS TYPE ALL ENTRIES -- COMPLETE APPLICABLE SECTIONS NAME HISTORIC United States Post Office AND/OR COMMON Palmer Main Post Office 2 LOCATION 3 4 6 STREET & NUMBER Park and Central Streets CITY.

TOWN Palmer STATE Massachusetts 01069 CLASSIFICATION CATEGORY _DISTRICT X BUILDING(S) STRUCTURE -SITE _OBJECT OWNERSHIP X PUBLIC _PRIVATE _BOTH PUBLIC ACQUISITION N/A IN PROCESS _BEING CONSIDERED N/AICINITY OF CODE 990 X STATUS _OCCUPIED _UNOCCUPIED -WORK IN PROGRESS ACCESSIBLE X_YES: RESTRICTED - YES: UNRESTRICTED _NO N/A -NOT FOR PUBLICATION CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT Second Congressional District COUNTY CODE Hampden 013 PRESENT USE AGRICULTURE -MUSEUM _COMMERCIAL _PARK _EDUCATIONAL _PRIVATE RESIDENCE _ENTERTAINMENT _RELIGIOUS X GOVERNMENT - SCIENTIFIC _INDUSTRIAL _TRANSPORTATION _MILITARY _OTHER: AGENCY REGIONAL HEADQUARTERS: (If applicable) New England Field Real Estate and Buildings Office STREET & NUMBER 1050 Waltham Street CITY. TOWN Lexington N/A VICINITY OF LOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION STATE Massachusetts 02173 COURTHOUSE. REGISTRY OF DEEDS, ETC.

Hampden County Courthouse STREET & NUMBER Route 181 CITY.TOWN STATE Palmer REPRESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS Massachusetts 01069 TITLE None DATE -FEDERAL _STATE _COUNTY _LOCAL DEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS CITY. TOWN STATE DESCRIPTION CONDITION XEXCELLENT _GOOD FAIR S _DETERIORATED LRUINS UNEXPOSED CHECK ONE XUNALTERED ALTERED CHECK ONE XORIGINAL SITE _MOVED DATE DESCRIBE THE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL (IF KNOWN) PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

Description of the property

The United States Post Office at Palmer is a fine example of Neo-Classical design and is quite significant as a product of the U.S. Treasury Department. Designed in April of 1931 under the administration of Louis A. Simon and James A. Wetmore of the Treasury's Architectural Division, it is a two-story steel frame structure with buff-colored brick and limestone trimmings. It is located on the outskirts of the Central Business District in what is presently, and has been historically, a predominately residential neighborhood. There is a predominance of 2-1/2 story wood frame, one and two family houses to the South and East of the site. To the North diagonally across the intersection of Park and Central Streets, is the Gothic Style gray stone structure of St. Paul's Universalist Church. On the Northwest side of Park Street a small one-story brick and wood shingle office building sits.

The remainder of the surrounding neighborhood is of a residential scale. Although irregular in shape the building is primarily square in plan. However, when viewed from the major approach routes, its recessed colonade entry and corresponding side facades give the illusion of being rectangular. The recessed entrance portico served by seven (7) full width granite steps consists of eight Ionic limestone columns some fifteen feet in height. The central three bays consist of three pairs of wood doors with one glass light and a full height transom above each. The adjacent bays consist of four window openings of 12/12 double hung wood sashes (each with uncharacteristic aluminum storm windows). Over the transom of each door and window is a plain face limestone plaque.

These 12/12 windows are repeated "outside" the portico with one at each of the flanking bays and on most of the other three sides. On both sides of the granite entrance stairs are the original cast copper art deco lampposts set on limestone plinths. Safety handrails have been added to the stairway. The columns support a limestone and brick frieze, cornice, and ballustrade that is continued around the perimeter of the building. A continuous limestone base supports the building in its entirety. Aside from water stains along the bricks beneath the seupper areas, the limestone cap and ballustrade sections require repointing. Otherwise, the building is in excellent original condition. The only alteration is a small protective canopy over the rear loading bay. Supported by simple metal columns, the original building is easily discerned.

The lobby area is for the most part, in the original condition. In order to NPS Form 10-200-a (3-82) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form Continuation sheet PALMER MAIN POST OFFICE Item number 7 OMB No. 1024-0018 Exp. 10-31-84 For NPS use only received date entered Page 2 meet the demand for additional box space, the money order counter was replaced with new compartments of a type and style that blend in with the original boxes. Typical with most of the post offices today, the original incandescent fixtures have been replaced by fluorescent ones. White marble wainscotting surrounds the lobby perimeter with a gray marble base and border at the white terrazzo floors. The wood trim at the window and box areas as well as the vestibule is of a natural finish and has been carefully maintained.

The original brasswork and entrance doors also remain. There are no other buildings on this half acre site. Mature maples and conifers grace the frontage along Central Street.

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

SIGNIFICANCE PERIOD PREHISTORIC -1400-1499 _1500-1599 .1600-1699 -1700-1799 -1800-1899 X1900- -ARCHEOLOGY-PREHISTORIC ARCHEOLOGY-HISTORIC AGRICULTURE XARCHITECTURE ART _COMMERCE -COMMUNICATIONS AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE -- CHECK AND JUSTIFY BELOW _COMMUNITY PLANNING -LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE -CONSERVATION -LAW _ECONOMICS _LITERATURE -EDUCATION _MILITARY -ENGINEERING _MUSIC -EXPLORATION/SETTLEMENT -PHILOSOPHY INDUSTRY _POLITICS/GOVERNMENT INVENTION -RELIGION _SCIENCE SCULPTURE _SOCIAL/HUMANITARIAN _THEATER TRANSPORTATION _OTHER (SPECIEVI SPECIFIC DATES Designed: April, 1931 Began Construction: Nov. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

Statement of significance

Completed: May, 1932 BUILDER/ARCHITECT L.A. Simon, Superintendent, Arch.Div James A. Wetmore, Sup. Architect Cianci Construction Co.: Contractors W. A. Newton & Company This Post Office is a fine example of Neo-Classical design and warrants a place on the National Register of Historic Places. Its location is a paradox. On the one hand it was conceived during hte Depression Era at a time when the Federal Government wanted to reach out to local communities. The grand proportion of the structure and the quality of work certainly bespeak of pride and integrity. On the other hand it is lost in a forest of residential homes, away from the downtown area. Symmetry and the use of classical elements such as the columns and the sizeable entablature they support give an aura of grandeur and artistic understanding.

The utilization of the light brick achieves a sense of human scale even at the grand proportion of the structure. The cost of construction in 1931 was $75,945.00. Yet even at this pricely sum, the contractor is reported to have gone bankrupt. Reports of close supervision created a building ofbeautiful construction but few:profits.. Indeed the original construction record photographs,+on file: at the Palmer Post Office, indicate a shift in the last remaining months from the Cianci Construction Company, originally awarded the project, the W.A Newton Company who completed it.

The rest of the file

Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.

MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES History of Post Office Construction 1900-1940, July, 1982 Craig, Lois, ed., The Federal Presence: Architecture, Politics and Symbols in the United States Government Building, Cambridge, Massachusetts: The MIT Press, 1979 10 GEOGRAPHICAL DATA ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY .5 UTM REFERENCES A[1,8] 1712,018,0,0 ZONE EASTING 14,617,015,3,5) NORTHING BLJLLI LESTN NOTHN NORTHING -LALLLJLliLul VERBAL BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION Located on the corner of Park and Central Streets, the site is rectangular in shape. Approximately 175' frontage borders Park Street with 150' along Cross Street. LIST ALL STATES AND COUNTIES FOR PROPERTIES OVERLAPPING STATE OR COUNTY BOUNDARIES STATE CODE COUNTY CODE STATE CODE COUNTY CODE 11 FORM PREPARED BY NAME / TITLE Robert W. St. John, Architect ORGANIZATION SULLIVAN DESIGN GROUP, -INC.

STREET & NUMBER 44 Adams Street CITY OR TOWN Braintree DATE July 15, 1985 TELEPHONE (617) 848-1545 STATE Massachusetts 02184 CERTIFICATION OF NOMINATION STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER RECOMMENDATION YES NO NONEX valeue A almael 9/19/85 STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER SIGNATURE In compliance with Executive Order 11593, I hereby nominate this property to the National Register, certifying that the State Historic Preservation Officer has been allowed 90 days in which to present the nomination to the State Review Board and to evaluate its significance. The evaluated level of significance is _ National State .Local. FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE TITLE Coe Director, Office of Real Estate DATE October 28, 1985 FOR NPS USE ONLY 1 HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS PROPERTY IS INCLUDED IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER latuich Andurs DIRECTOR.

OFFICE-OF ABCHEOLOGY AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION ATTEST:Bey javase DATE 12/12/85 12-11-85 DATE OF THE NATIOF VAL REGISTER GPO 899-214 6 2 1/2 story clapboard residence 2 story clapboard residence -6" 34' $ 97.4" Park Street 2 1/2 story asphalt shingle residence 2 1/2 story woodshingle residence 2 1/2 story wood siding residence 2 1/2 story wood shingle mesidence Maple Street UNITED STATES POST OFFICE - PALMER, MASSACHUSETTS Central Street 1. 2 3. 4. 5. 6.

Vestibule Lobby Postmaster Workroom Mail Vestibule Mail Platform One story brick office Parking 21/2 story wood- siding residence Stone/wood Universalist Church WASO Form - 177 ("R" June 1984) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET 85003336 United States Post Office Hampden County MASSACHUSETTS Substantive Review resubmission nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal Working No.. OCT 3| 1985 Fed. Reg. Date: 2/3/87 Date Due:1l 28/85 .- R1s Action: LACCEPT 12-12-85 -RETURN _REJECT. Federal Agency: U.S Porlal Seuese Substantive Review: Asample -request lappeal -NR decision Reviewer's comments: Significant as localinstitutional brick example of twentieth century Recom./Criterja - Accept C academic eclecticism manifeated in Reviewer. avage the Classical Revival mode.

Discipline- erchtectenal History Date 12-11-85 - see continuation sheet Nomination returned for: - technical corrections cited below _substantive reasons discussed below 1. Name 2. Location 3. Classification Category Ownership Public Acquisition Status Accessible Present Use 4. Owner of Property 5. Location of Legal Description 6. Representation in Existing Surveys Has this property been determined eligible? ves no 7. Description Condition excellent good fair deteriorated ruins unexposed Check one -unaltered J altered Check one - original site moved date Describe the present and original (if known) physical appearance summary paragraph completeness clarity alterations/integrity dates boundary selection 8.

Significance Period Areas of Significance-Check and justify below Specific dates Builder/Architect Statement of Significance (in one paragraph) summary paragraph completenesse) 18 100 clarity applicable criteria justification of areas checked relating significance to the resource context relationship of integrity to significance justification of exception J other wetvoR avianedady 9. Major Bibliographical References 10. Geographical Data Acreage of nominated property Quadrangle name_ UTM References Verbal boundary description and justification 11. Form Prepared By 12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification The evaluated significance of this property within the state is: national state local State Historic Preservation Officer signature date title 13.

Other Maps Photographs Other Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to _ Signed Date Phone: Comments for any item may be continued on an attached sheet MAIN POST OFFICE PALMER, MASSACHUSETTS Palmer Main Post Office Palmer, MA Dennis Griggs August 1983 Sullivan Design Group, Inc. Front elevation. Right view MAIN POST OFFICE PALMER, MASSACHUSETTS 06069 Palmer Main Post Office Palmer, MA Dennis Griggs August 1983 Sullivan Design Group, Inc. Front elevation. Left view MAIN POST OFFICE PALMER, MASSACHUSETTS Palmer Main Post Office Palmer, MA Dennis Griggs August 1983 Sullivan Design Group, Inc. Front Elevation UIS. POST OFFICE PALMER MASS. MAIN POST OFFICE PALMER, MASSACHUSETTS Palmer Main Post Office Palmer, MA Dennis Griggs August 1983 Sullivan Design Group, Inc. Front Entrance AATES POSTA ITED UN ** FIELD REAL ESTATE AND BUILDINGS OFFICE P.O.

Box 324 Lexington, MA 02173-0324 BOARD OFSELECTMLEN RECEIVED JUN2 0 1985 MASS. June 17, 1985 The Honorable Mark Benoit Chairman, Board of Selectman, Town of Palmer Palmer Town Building Palmer, MA 01069 Dear Chairman Benoit: The U. S. Postal Service in conjunction with the Massachusetts Historical Commission in Boston has evaluated the Main Post Office in Palmer and has determined it is significant from a historical viewpoint. In view of the above evaluation, the U.S. Postal Service intends to nominate this building to the National Register of Historic Places. We would, prior to our taking formal action, appreciate receiving your concurrence. If you concur with our proposed action, kindly return a signed copy of this letter in the enclosed envelope. Sincerely, Eheax fu, Gregory Gilleland General Manager Concur: Marl E.

Benut (c) Enclosure JPC/1jr LATES POSTA UNITED U.S.MAIL SERVICE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE Real Estate and Buildings Department 475 L'Enfant Plaza, SW Washington, DC 20260-6400 October 28, 1985 Ms. Carol D. Shull Chief of Registration National Register of Historic Places National Park Service Department of Interior washington, D.C. 20240-1002 Dear Ms. Shull: The Postal Service hereby submits a nomination for the post office located at Park and Central Streets, Hampden County, Palmer, Massachusetts. If you have any questions concerning this nomination, please call me at 202/268-3107. Sincerely, Pat s John S. Sorenson Realty Specialist, Senior Office of Real Estate Enclosure OCT 3 | 1985