Nomination for US Post Office--Great Barrington Main

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

Form No. 10-306 (Rev.

10-74) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OFTHE INTERIOR FOR NPS USE ONLY NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY -- NOMINATION FORM RECEIVED NOV 27 1985 DATE ENTEREDJAN 0 986 FOR FEDERAL PROPERTIES SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOW TO COMPLETE NATIONAL REGISTER FORMS TYPE ALL ENTRIES -- COMPLETE APPLICABLE SECTIONS 3 4 5 6 NAME HISTORIC United States Post Office AND/OR COMMON Great Barrington Main Post Office LOCATION STREET & NUMBER 222 Main Street CITY.TOWN STATE Great Barrington N/A VICINITY OF CODE 0440 _NOT FOR PUBLICATION CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT First Congressional District COUNTY CODE Berkshire 003 Massachusetts CLASSIFICATION CATEGORY LDISTRICT XBUILDING(S) STRUCTURE _SITE OBJECT OWNERSHIP XUBLIC _PRIVATE _BOTH PUBLIC ACQUISITION N/AN PROCESS BEING CONSIDERED STATUS XOCCUPIED _UNOCCUPIED WORK IN PROGRESS ACCESSIBLE XYES: RESTRICTED - YES: UNRESTRICTED _NO PRESENT USE AGRICULTURE _MUSEUM _COMMERCIAL PARK _EDUCATIONAL PRIVATE RESIDENCE _ENTERTAINMENT _RELIGIOUS XGOVERNMENT _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. STREET & NUMBER Southern Berkshire Registry of Deeds 334 Main Street CITYTOWN STATE Massachusetts Great Barrington REPRESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS 01230 TITLE None DATE _FEDERAL STATE COUNTY LOCAL DEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS CITY. TOWN STATE 7 DESCRIPTION CONDITION XEXCELLENT _GOOD FAIR DETERIORATED _RUINS _UNEXPOSED CHECK ONE -UNALTERED XALTERED CHECK ONE XORIGINAL SITE _MOVED DATE *Canopy over loading platform in DESCRIBE THE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL (IF KNOWN) PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

Description of the property

rear The Main Post Office of Great Barrington occupies a half acre site along Route 41, a central artery in this rural Berkshire town. The site is located in an area of medium density with adjacent commercial properties of one and twostory structures. Primarily a one story masonry structure, the exterior red brick wall finish consists of Flemish bond coursing with marble lintels. The window openings house the original 12/12 double hung wood sashes with aluminum storm windows. A white projecting tetrastyle Tuscan portico articulates the recessed entry to the public lobby. The smooth columns, heavier than the usual proportions, support a plain frieze and pediment. The columns and pilasters are painted concrete. The pediment, entablature and cornice are painted wood. The brick recessed entry is also painted.

In the rear, a projecting canopy was constructed in 1960 over the loading platform and bays. This structure is supported, in part, by two masonry wing walls. The exterior brickwork closely resembles the coursing and materials of the original construction. A low profile hip roof covers the square building plan. Rising above the center of this construction is a large square mass that formerly contained the clerestory lights. A new standing seam metal roof now closes off the original skylight and covers the supporting roof structure in its entirety. The basement and foundation are reinforced concrete with solid slab floor. White marble wainscotting still graces the public lobby accenting the original dark terrazzo floor surface. The wood and glass vestibule has been meticulously maintained and still retains a suggestion of Art Deco with its wood pediment and trim.

The painted woodwork around the post office boxes is original. There are no other buildings or other manmade structures' on the site. Iwo crab apple trees frame the portico at the main entrance which is bordered by a low privet hedge. ECDO 388 n02 0ca 15512 8

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 LLAW -ECONOMICS _LITERATURE EDUCATION _MILITARY -ENGINEERING _MUSIC _EXPLORATION/SETTLEMENT __PHILOSOPHY XPOLITICS/GOVERNMENT -INVENTION _RELIGION SCIENCE SCULPTURE -SOCIAL/HUMANITARIAN _THEATER TRANSPORTATION -OTHER (SPECIEVI SPECIFIC DATES Designed: 1935 Constructed: 1936 BUILDER

Statement of significance

/ARCHITECT Louis A. Simon, Sup. Architect Lorimer Rich, Architect STATEMENT OF'SIGNIFICANCE D.A. Sullivan & Sons, Contractor The Great Barrington Post office Is a unique example of Merdbopgton, Massachusetts Classification System for Federal Buildings Class C Construction. Given its central location within the county seat, it could produce receipts that are equal to that of a second-class city. Therefore, the character of the building was given brick facing with stone trim, wooden doors, frames and sashes, and very simple forms of ornamentation on the interior. In June of 1934, it was dictated that the use of private architects for the design of publie buildings be curtailed and that all remaining Federal buildings be designed by the Office of the Supervising Architect.

Consequently, this Post Office was produced during a time when standard plans were used to minimize the number of individual drawings and encourage swift project completion. Working with a standard floor plan, Lorimer Rich, a private Architect, utilized the wide latitude left for architectural innovation and produced this somewhat unusual design for the mid 1930's. It was constructed in 1936 by D. A. Sullivan & Sons. The main facade, with its unusual Tuscan pillars, suggests a Center Revival Temple front that remains in complete accord with the Colonial and Classical Revival buildings in the surrounding community. The Great Barrington township, located in southwestern Berkshire County, is one of the largest townships in Western Massachusetts in both area and population.

The Housatonic River flowing north to south through the center of the township brought a number of mills of various types to the area. Two stages once passed daily from Hartford, Connecticut to Albany, New York, through the center of Great Barrington. In the 1840's, the railroad was completed which expedited and increased passenger, freight, and mail service. The present building, located in the heart of the transit area, is the eighth building to house the Post Office and the only structure designed to accommodate the single purpose activities of this department. Previous locations included the registry of deeds, various stores, and personal houses, depending on the nature of the politically appointed Postmaster. From Moses Hopkins (appointed the first Postmaster in 1797) to Edward C.

The rest of the file

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

MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES Postal History of Berkshire County Massachusetts 1790-1981, 1982 Leo L. Lincoln and Lee C. Drickamer, Excelsier Printing Co., North Adams, MA History of Post Office Construction 1900-1940, July 1982 10 GEOGRAPHICAL DATA ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY - 5 UTM REFERENCES AL1,8 1613,514,0,0 ZONE EASTING $,617310,8,01 NORTHING ZONE EASTING NORTHING JORTHING D VERBAL BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION Rectangular in shape, the site maintains approximately 102 feet of frontage along Main Street (Route 41)- It is approximately 170 feet deep with the building size of 64-½ x 64- x 47'-½. 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 ORGANIZATION Robert W. St. John SULLIVAN DESIGN GROUP, INC.

STREET & NUMBER 44 Adams Street CITY OR TOWN Braintree, DATE July 12, 1985 TELEPHONE (617) 848-1545 STATE Massachusetts 02184 12 CERTIFICATION OF NOMINATION STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER RECOMMENDATION Valeui A lalmace 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 - X Local. FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE TITLE jaum 1. Con Director, Office of Real Estate DATE 11-25-85 FOR NPSUSE ONLY 1 HBREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS PROPERTY IS INCLUDED IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER alick W.

Anelus DATE 1 10/86 ATTEST: DRECTOROFFCEOEAACHEOLOG AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION KEEFER OF THEN AFONAL REGISTER DATE 1-10-86 GPO 899-214 NPS Form 10-900-a (3-82) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form Continuation sheet Item number eight (8) OMB No. 1024-0018 Exp. 10-31-84 For NPS use only received date entered Page 2 Tyler in 1935, thirteen postmasters served. It is significant that the present structure represents an end to the haphazard location of the Post Office as dictated by the political appointment, administration, and system of the time.

Although it is not a monumental structure or richly detailed as other structures of its era, the Great Barrington Post Office displays an understated elegance and a quality of workmanship that is worthy of its importance to the surrounding communities and of a place in the National Register of Historic Places. Commercial Commercial 12 Main Street Library 1. LOBBY 2. POSTMASTER'S OFFICE 3. WORKROOM 4. MAIL VESTIBULE 5. MAIL PLATFORM ORIGINAL BUILDING (BEFORE ADDITION) ASO Form - 1 'R" June 198 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET United States Post Office-Great Barrington Main Post Office Berkshire County MASSACHUSETTS bstantiva Pevier 86000163 Working No. NOV 27 1985 Fed. Reg.

Date 22/3/82 Date Due: /2/26/8.5 - 1/11/66 Jay Action: VACCEPT 1-10-86 - resubmission _RETURN L nomination by person or local government _REJECT- - owner objection Federal Agency: U.S. Postal Seuru L appeal Substantive Review: Asampla -request Lappeal LJNR decision Reviewer's comments: significant late, institutional ekample 4 acadenie Electicien manifeated in the recom critorig Accept C olonial paiiial made. Discipline _ Date_ 1-10-86 Urchitectural Wistory _ see continuation sheet Nomination returned for: _technical corrections cited below _substantive reasons discussed below 1. Name 2. Location 3. Classification Category Ownership Public Acquisition 4. Owner of Property 5. Location of Legal Description 6. Representation in Existing Surveys Has this property been determined eligible? 7.

Description Dyes - no Condition -excellent - good -fairR - deteriorated -ruins -unexposed Check one -unaltered -altered Describe the present and original (if known) physical appearance - summary paragraph completeness clarity - alterations/integrity - dates - boundary selection Status Accessible Present Use Check one -original site -moved date 8. Significance Period Areas of Significance-Check and justify below Specific dates Statement of Significance (in one paragraph) Builder/Architect LJ summary paragraph - completeness L clarity JJ applicable criteria justification of areas checked J relating significance to the resource J context - relationship of integrity to significance -justification of exception -other 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 title 13. Other date -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 UNITED STATES POST OFF MAIN POST OFFICE GREAT BARRINGTON, MA 02130 Great Barrington Main Post Office Great Barrington, MA David R. Hooker May 6, 1983 Earl R. Flansburgh and Associates Front Elevation MAIN POST OFFICE GREAT BARRINGTON, MA 02130 Great Barrington Main Post Office Great Barrington, MA David R. Hooker May 6, 1983 Earl R. Flansburgh and Associates Front elevation. Right view MAIN POST OFFICE GREAT BARRINGTON, MA 021.30 Great Barrington Main Post Office Great Barrington, MA May 6, 1983 Earl R.

Flansburgh and Associates Front elevation. Left view MATES POSTA UNIT SERVICE U.S.MAIL ******* FIELD REAL ESTATE AND BUILDINGS OFFICE P.O. Box 324 Lexington, MA 02173-0324 June 17, 1985 The Honorable Richard Louison Chairman, Board of Selectman, Town of Great Barrington Town Hall Main Street Great Barrington, MA 01230 Dear Chairman Louison: The U. S. Postal Service in conjunction with the Massachusetts Historical Commission in Boston has evaluated the Main Post Office in Great Barrington 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, Aheda fasrey silleland ceperal Manager Concur: wned!Eunisn Enclosure JPC/1jr RECEIVED NS POSTAL SERVICE JUN 27 10 27 PM'85 NEW ERGETE "ELD REAL ESTI CFFICE LE) 19173 AATES POSTA UNITED U.S.MAIL * SERVICE * ******* UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE Real Estate and Buildings Department 475 L'Enfant Plaza, SV Nashington, D 20260-6400 November 25, 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 222 Main Street, Berkshire County, Great Barrington, Massachusetts. If you have any questions concerning this nomination, please call me at 202/268-3107. Sincerely, Ssue Sorenson Realty Specialist, Senior Office of Real Estate Enclosure NOV 27 1985