Nomination for US Post Office--Milton Main

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

Form No. 10-306 (Rev. 10-74) UNITEDSTATES DEPARTMENT OFTHE INTERIOR FOR NPS USE ONLY NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES RECEIVEO APR 23 1986 INVENTORY -- NOMINATION FORM DATE ENTERED 15-30-06 FOR FEDERAL PROPERTIES SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOW TO COMPLETE NATIONAL REGISTER FORMS TYPE ALL ENTRIES - COMPLETE APPLICABLE SECTIONS 3 4 5 NAME HISTORIC United States Post Office AND/OR COMMON Milton Main Post Office LOCATION STREET & NUMBER 499 Adams Street CITY.

TOWN Milton STATE Massachusetts 02186 CLASSIFICATION N/A VICINITY OF CODE 0825 NOT FOR PUBLICATION CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT Eleventh Congressional District COUNTY CODE Norfolk 021 CATEGORY DISTRICT XBUILDING(S) STRUCTURE _SITE _OBJECT OWNERSHIP - _PRIVATE _BOTH PUBLIC ACQUISITION N/AIN PROCESS -BEING CONSIDERED STATUS XOCCUPIED _UNOCCUPIED -WORK IN PROGRESS ACCESSIBLE XYES: RESTRICTED -YES: UNRESTRICTED PRESENT USE AGRICULTURE _MUSEUM _COMMERCIAL _PARK -EDUCATIONAL _PRIVATE RESIDENCE _ENTERTAINMENT _RELIGIOUS XGOVERNMENT SCIENTIFIC _INDUSTRIAL TRANSPORTATION -MILITARY LOTHER: AGENCY REGIONAL HEADQUARTERS: (If applicable). New England Field Real Estate & 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.

Norfolk CountyRegistry of Deeds STREET & NUMBER CITY. TOWN 649 High Street Dedham STATE Massachusetts 02026 REPRESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS TITLE None DATE _FEDERAL STATE COUNTY -LOCAL DEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS CITY. TOWN STATE 7 DESCRIPTION CONDITION _EXCELLENT XGOOD _FAIR CHECK ONE CHECK ONE DETERIORATED -RUINS _UNEXPOSED _UNALTERED X ALTERED XORIGINAL SITE _MOVED DATE. DESCRIBE THE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL (IF KNOWN) PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

Description of the property

_PHYSICAL APPEARANCE_ The building and its property are in good condition. The post office is on the front (northern) portion of the lot with a paved vehicle maneuvering area to its rear. The site is landscaped with lawn and several shrubs; driveways to the rear provide access to Edge Hill Road and Hollis Street. The building is constructed of local quarried granite with oversized blocks acting as lintels. The gable ends are of stucco; the copper-covered pitched roof is topped by a highly detailed cupola. In plan, the building has a small vestibule leading to a public lobby, flanked by the Postmaster's office to the right and workroom space to the left. Behind the service screen is the workroom with a mail vestabule and platform beyond. Fifteen steps with wrought-iron railings create the main approach.

The front (north) elevation is a five-bay structure with a higher, pedimented three-bay projecting central entranceway which breaks down the volume of the building. The building's base is of projecting ashlar granite. Iwo replacement aluminum and glass doors are framed by original sidelights and fanlight,all set within an arched recess with large granite voussoirs. Oversized iron and glass electric lanterns flank the opening. This section is topped by a pediment with a carving of an eagle between two hatchets. Above the gable roof is a cupola of wood construction, circular in plan, with louvered side panels and a copper roof. Windows are double-hung, wood sash with 12/12 lights, large lintels and thin sills. The east and west elevations are similar in detail to the front facade. Four bays long, the end bays are topped by smaller, plain gabled roofs with a flat roof in between.

The southfacade has the mail platform. One enters into a highly carved, stained wood vestibule. Its side wood doors have brass railings. The carvings resemble a series of fluted Corinthian columns supporting a plain entablature with a denticulated cornice. The public lobby has a black and white checkerboard terrazzo floor, white marble wainscot with a black marble base and finishing strip, plaster walls and ceiling, and an ornamented, denticulated plaster cornice. (3-82) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination Form Continuation sheet Milton Post Office 7 Item number UMU NU. IU/4 -UNIM Exp: 10-31-84 For NPS use only recelved date entered Page 2 The right wall contains the Postmaster's office door, stained wood with simple trim, geometric detailed entablature and projecting cornice.

_ART_ On the west wall of the lobby is an oil mural entitled "The Suffolk Resolves; Tyranny and Revolt in the Colonies." The main section is above the Postmaster's door; a small, lower corner was removed by the addition of the new boxes. The display case to the right is flanked by two small vignettes. It would appear that a similar arrangement was present on the left side.

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- AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE -- CHECK AND JUSTIFY BELOW -ARCHEOLOGY-PREHISTORIC _COMMUNITY PLANNING -LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE ARCHEOLOGY-HISTORIC -CONSERVATION -LAW AGRICULTURE -ECONOMICS -LITERATURE XARCHITECTURE XART LEDUCATION _MILITARY -ENGINEERING _MUSIC _COMMERCE -EXPLORATION/SETTLEMENT _PHILOSOPHY _COMMUNICATIONS _INDUSTRY _POLITICS/GOVERNMENT INVENTION -RELIGION -SCIENCE _SCULPTURE -SOCIAL/HUMANITARIAN -THEATER -TRANSPORTATION -OTHER (SPECIEVI SPECIFIC DATES Cornerstone: June 6, 1936 STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

Statement of significance

Dedication: January 27, 193%UILDER/ARCHITECT Louis A. Simon, Supervising Archi- tect Overlooking the Southeast Expressway, the Milton Main Post Office serves as an attractive gateway to the architecturally rich residential areas, to the West, bordering Brook and Edgehill Roads. Built in 1936, it is architecturally significant as a representative of the construction and design policies of the Public Works Administration (P.W.A.) during the late 1930's. Although it is slightly less than fifty (50) years old it is important as an example of P.W.A. Supervising Architect, Louis Adolf Simon's efforts to use local building materials, standardized construction methods and streamlined, etticient plans. In addition, this building contains an important mural by Guggenheim Fellowship winner, Ellzabeth Tracy of Cambridge, MA.

This building is of a simple Colonial Revival design of the type employed in late 1930's post offices. Its simple, compact T-shaped form and logical 5-area plan facilitated a construction schedule of only seven months. It was the P.W.A.'s policy to build a post office as quickly as possible so that communities could benefit from them during the Depression. In keeping with government policy of the time, walls were constructed of local granite rather than an expensive imported stone. Ornamentation is minimal and limited to the ecliptical arched entrance enrichment. This structure is dominated by a Colonial Revival cupola which serves as local landmark and more abstractly as a symbol of the Federal Government. This building's design originated in the office of U.S. Supervising Architect, Louis Adolf Simon (c. 1870-1941). He was born in Boston and educated at M.I.T.

He began a private practice in Washington, D.C. in 1894 and entered the office of the U.S. Treasury Supervising Architect in 1896. He served as the chief architect in this office from 1905-1933. From 1933 until his death in 1941, he was the U.S. Supervisory Architect. During his tenure, 406 post offices were designed in his department. In addition he was responsible for the design of the Federal Building at the New York World's Fair of 1939-1940. The cornerstone for the Milton Main Post Office was laid on June 6, 1936. It reads "Henry Morgenthau, Secretary of the Treasury; James A. Farley, Postmaster General; Louis A. Simon, Supervising Architect; Neal A. Melnick, Supervising Engineer; 1936." Construction was complicated by two events: much of the interior furnishings were damaged by firé in a storehouse in Lowell and the new postal equipment was in back-order.

The bullding was dedicated on January 27, 1937. Its completion was of considerable local S1gniticance to the town. For the first time mail distribution would be centralized under one roof rather than being divided among five separate post offices. The prime Forntd Sided tim mait advocate for the post office was Jesse B. Baxter, local politician and local president.

The rest of the file

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

MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES "The Milton Record" January 30, 1937, Volume 34, Number 5 - MA: Milton "The Milton Record" November 26, 1938, Volume 35, Number 48 - MA: Milton 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 History of Milton to 1930 by Edward Pierce Hamiiton 10 GEOGRAPHICAL DATA ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY - 0.498 UTM REFERENCES AL19/ 1313,114,9,0 [4618012,6,5) ZONE EASTING NORTHING ZONE: EASTING NORTHING NORTHING cLi Allu ULiLJLIL VERBAL BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION Northeast to Southwest - 190.0' along Hollis Street Northwest to South - 91.0'along rear lot line Southwest to East - 82.0' along rear lot line Southwest to Northeast - 135.0' along Edge Hill Road LIST ALL STATES AND COUNTIES FOR PROPERTIES OVERLAPPING STATE OR COUNTY BOUNDARIES STATE CODE COUNTY CODE STATE CODE COUNTY CODE FORM PREPARED BY NAME /TITLE Steven M. Smith, Project Manager ORGANIZATION SULLIVAN DESIGN GROUP, INC.

STREET & NUMBER 44 Adams Street CITY OR TOWN Braintree DATE September 25, 1985 TELEPHONE (617) 848-1545 STATE Massachusetts 02184 12 CERTIFICATION OFNOMINATION STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER RECOMMENDATION YES. X NO NONE dluie demace STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION ÓAFICER 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 daysfin which to present the nomination to the State Review Board and to evaluate its significance. The evaluated level of signiffcance i National - State , * Local.

FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE TITLE DATE 4/15/06 Realty Specjalist, Senior FOR NPS USE ONLY YHEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS PROPERTY IS INCLUDED IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER Vatuck Andus DOROFCSOF ARCHEOLOGY AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION ~KEEPER REGISTER DATE DATE 5/30/86 5/29/86 GPO 899-214 (3-82) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination Form umu !"i 1U24-UIH E*p. 10-31-84 For NPS use only recelved date entered Continuation sheet MILTON MAIN POST OFFICE Item number 8 Page 2 The Post Offices' land had been known as "Baxter's Lot." The Milton Main Post Office's lobby contains a mural which is a product of the Treasury Relief Art project. It was painted in 1930 by Elizabeth Tracy, a Cambridge resident. She graduated in Fine Arts in 1933 from Radcliffe College and was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1940.

The Milton Main Post Offices mural depicts scenes related to the beginnings of the American Revolution including The Signing of the Suffolk Resolves at the home of Daniel Vose and the Boston Massacre. The Daniel Vose house has been preserved by the local historical society. Economically, the construction of this post office provided local residents with jobs but its impact was apparently minimal in Milton, an affluent bedroom community of Boston. It is not too clear as to whether the Post Office's granite was quarried within the town limits. Quarrying had ceased to be an important industry in Milton by the early 1920's. Assuming that local granite was used in keeping with P.W.A. policies then the Milton Main Post Office's construction meant a temporary rennaissance for Milton granite quarrying. Bassett St.

I story Commercial 2 story brick/concrete office building Parking Southeast Expressway 2 story Commercial Office Grass overpass Granite Avenue Adams Street 2 story Hood- Frame Residence Hollis Street 109' 1351 Bryant Avenue 2 stor Wood-Frame Residence 82' 1 story Brick Classical- Revival Public Library Edge Hill Road story Station 1 - Vestibule 2 - Public Library 3 - Postmaster's Office 4. - Workroom 5 - Mail Platform UNITED STATES POST OFFICE - MILTON, MASSACHUSETTS 1 story Stucco Office Mc Eowdong Darchester Lei sch Champiuh n .PARK.

ectiny sctl Mightinggate Schy L-Cottfpuse Fields Commer Gibson Playeround JPark 50- O Héirn Sch Dorenester e Godman Center Municipar Sal -Bidg Hamenwe Playground Alayto epamala Burial Ground ifield schc Vensch a Ashtront Hospital IM1O2 arney Braospital Cedar Grove : Cem Dorchester Park Lower Mildal suarksch Baket BE Gregor: o/Sch SYSTEM# IRP BDY 1BTA Milton Wilage NEPONSET RIVER RESERVATIOX N)Piayground EPONSET Hutchinsgn Field Brook Iton Glover - Postbonne Academy Playground Miton. BROOK gham N Milton. Cemetery spital Academy Hill RANDOLPH (BLUE HILLS) 6768 II NE SCALE 1:25 000 2000 CONRAIL Commercial Nud Squanitum - PU Nai Tenean geound Drive-in Theater 121 INTERCHANGEP 0 o Radio Towers (WEZE) Golf Course NIVEH BM Radio Towers (WMEXIT ullive Playgrouna Cunninghal Park 331 6000 o'Rourke. Field 1lcam \BRAINTREE 3.4 MI 2'30" 1 MILE Squan Tower.

Nicke Mud Myles Standish Sch ATLANT yground aty Auantic * Hinh S INO Worfolk Do wns 1BM 152 Mummock Mud WARREN HILESIÕE Forbesjhilt AWT Course Pynace Bfok Brook -Hos 1o orarnground i 333 INTERIOR...GI ROAI Primary highway hard: rfare Ser ntary tughway WASO Form - 177 ("R" June 1984) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET United States Post Office--Milton Main Norfolk County MASSACHUSETTS Substentive Review 8600123 resubmission nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal Substantive Review: Reviewer's comments: #sample Working No._ R,23 1986 Fed. Reg.

Date: 2/3/85 Date Due: _ 27/1- 6/2/83 Action: _ACCEPT _ 5-30-86 - RETURN _REJECT Federal Agency: _US PS Jrequest appeal significant ekample of -NR decision Oppression and Revoet in the Colonies, "wae Datep- 5/22/86 exceutd by cambridge artick Clizabethssecy Nomination returned for: - technical corrections cited below Bepedtotoiit. the reasury _substantive reasons discussed below 1. Name 2. Location 3. Classification Category Ownership Public Acquisition Status Accessible 4. Owner of Property 5. Location of Legal Description 6. Representation in Existing Surveys Has this property been determined eligible? yes no 7.

Description Condition excellent good fair 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 Present Use Check one J original site moved date_ 8. Significance Period Areas of Significance-Check and justify below Specific dates Builder/Architect Statement of Significance (in one paragraph) summary paragraph completeness E S clarity applicable criteria justification of areas checked relating significance to the resource context relationship of integrity to significance justification of exception other aervo ovljnatadrc 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 MILTON MAIN POST OFFICE Milton, MA Dennis Griggs Sullivan Design Group, Inc. May 1983 Front elevation. Right view Milton Post OFfice MILTON MAIN POST OFFICE Milton, MA Dennis Griggs Sullivan Design Group, Inc. May 1983 Front elevation Milton Post Office Milton Post Office MILTON MAIN POST OFFICE Milton, MA Dennis Griggs Sullivan Design Group, Inc. May 1983 Front elevation. Left view 102 SUPERINTENDENT SHOESTRING QUARTET allty gifts at afforctable prices MILTON MAIN POST OFFICE Milton, MA DenniGriggs Sullivan Design Group, Inc.

May 1983 Mural Milton Post Office CALEAAY EN 10/7/81 Tredo To MILTON EXECUTIVE SECRETARY JOHN A. CRONIN COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS cofy ECEIVEDT .S. POSTAL SERVICOWN OF MILTOI OFFICE OF SELECTMEN ? I/ 10 MEYLENGLAND FIELD REAL October 3, 1985 ESTATE & BLDCS. OFFICE LEXINGTON. MA 02173 SELECTMEN WALTER F. TIMILTY CHAIRMAN WILLIAM A. REILLY, JR. SECRETARY JAMES G. MULLEN, JR. Gregory Gilleland General Manager Field Real Estate and Buildings Office P.O. Box 324 Lexington, Mass. 02173 Attn: Edward Kearney East Milton Post Office The Town of Milton Board of Selectmen is pleased to endorse the nomination of the East Milton Post Office to the National Register of Historic Places. The Selectmen unanimously concur with your effort and urge you to proceed with the formal action required. Please advise if we may be of any further assistance. Very truly yours, Yohn Q.

lionin Executive Secretary JAC/gk CC: William Heath, Chairman Milton Historical Commission Cong. Brian Donnelly P.S. We also hope that your efforts will encourage the Post Office to restore the E. Milton Post Office's beautiful copper roof which has been patched with unsightly asphalt shingles. WATES POSTA UN U.S.MAII ****** A UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE Real Estate and Buildings Department 475 L'Enfant Plaza, SW Washington, DC 20260-6400 April 17, 1986 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 499 Adams Street, Norfolk County, Milton, Massachusetts. If you have any guestions concerning this nomination, please call me at 202/268-3107.

Sincerely, AakusSe unse Realty Specialist, Senior Office of Real Estate Enclosure APR 23 1986