Nomination for US Post Office--Williamstown 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 .FEB 19 1986 INVENTORY -- NOMINATION FORM DATE ENTERED FOR FEDERAL PROPERTIES SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOW TO COMPLETE NATIONAL REGISTER FORMS TYPE ALL ENTRIES -- COMPLETE APPLICABLE SECTIONS 1 NAME HISTORIC United States Post Office AND/OR COMMON Williamstown Main Post Office 2 LOCATION STREET & NUMBER 63 Spring Street CITY, TOWN STATE Williamstown N/A VICINITY OF CODE 1480 N/ANOT FOR PUBLICATION CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT First Congressional District COUNTY CODE Berkshire 003 3 Massachusetts 02167 CLASSIFICATION CATEGORY DISTRICT X BUILDING(S) STRUCTURE _SITE _OBJECT OWNERSHIP X PUBLIC 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 _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 5 LOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION STATE Massachusetts 02173 COURTHOUSE. REGISTRY OF DEEDS,ETC. Northern Berkshire Registry of Deeds STREET & NUMBER 65 Park Street CITY.TOWN Adams REPRESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS STATE Massachusetts 01220 TITLE None DATE -FEDERAL STATECOUNTYLOCAL DEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS CITYTOWN STATE 7 DESCRIPTION CONDITION X EXCELLENT GOOD FAIR DETERIORATED -RUINS _UNEXPOSED CHECK ONE _UNALTERED XALTERED CHECK ONE X ORIGINAL SITE MOVED DATE DESCRIBE THE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL (IF KNOWN) PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

Description of the property

The post office is located midway on Spring Street, a side street off the main street through town. Spring Street contains the conmercial and business section of town and is composed of two and three story structures which date from the mid to late 19th century. This section of town is in direct contrast to Main Street which is tree lined and handsomely landscaped. The buildings historically and architecturally noteworthy are set back from the road way and form a serene village scene. The post office is a brick structure of Flemish bond set on a granite base with a marble stringcourse. Broad granite steps with wrought iron railings lead to a pedimented portico of excellent detail.

Columns supporting the pediment are formed from a single piece of veined marble; marble is also used for window trim and the richly detailed entrance surround, the panels over the windows with a band above, molded cornice and ballustered sections over the windows in a brick parapet with a marble rail. The pedimented portico has an architrave of classic design which endows the building with an architectural importance. The lobby is in its orignial state except for the installation of a new glass and aluminum vestibule and entrance doors and fluorescent ceiling light fixtures. The floor is quarry tile laid in a pattern with marble feature strips and border. There is seven foot high grey veined marble wainscot with carved trim and flat entablature over the entrance to the postmaster's office.

Plain plaster walls above the wainscot terminate in an ornamental plastered border; a boldly detailed classical cornice enriches the space. The marble staircase to the basement with wrought iron ballusters and brass railing is unalterd and the stained wood and glass transoms over the service window and boxes remain in their original condition.

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 X 1900- ARCHEOLOGY-PREHISTORIC -ARCHEOLOGY-HISTORIC XAGRICULTURE ARCHITECTURE ART COMMERCE .COMMUNICATIONS AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE -- CHECK AND JUSTIFY BELOW -_COMMUNITY PLANNING -LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE -CONSERVATION LAW _ECONOMICS _LITERATURE EDUCATION _MILITARY LENGINEERING MUSIC _EXPLORATION/SETTLEMENT _PHILOSOPHY INDUSTRY POLITICS/GOVERNMENT -INVENTION RELIGION SCIENCE SCULPTURE _SOCIAL/HUMANITARIAN _THEATER -TRANSPORTATION _OTHER (SPECIEV) SPECIFIC DATES Constructed: 1932 STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

Statement of significance

BUILDER/ARCHITECT - James A. Wetmore, Acting Supervising Architect Constructed during the early years of the depression when the building program of post offices was substantially increased, this building is unusual in the attention devoted to the treatment of the exterior. The abundance of architectural detail lavished on the facade of this facility which encompasses a standard plan elevates the building to a position of great importance in the community. Serving a college society of great diversity and the town in general, the Post Office becomes a common place of business and interaction on a day to day basis. It is fitting that this meeting place in a federal building; however, brief, be an experience of some significance. In that the architectural quality of the entrance and potential worth of the lobby provide this need, this property is one of contributing importance.

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 -432 UTM REFERENCES A[1, 8 L6| 4,708,0 L4,7/3.010,3,01 ZONE EASTING NORTHING CLL 1iLu *ZONE EASTINd NORTHING NORTHING eLueLadLiliLud VERBAL BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION The site is located on the East side of Spring Street, is rectangular in shape, and contains approximately 18,860 square feet. 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 El1sworth H. Kent, Architect ORGANIZATION SULLIVAN DESIGN GROUP, INC.

STREET & NUMBER CITY OR TOWN 44 Adams Street Braintree DATE July 15, 1985 TELEPHONE (617) 848-1545 STATE Massachusetts 02184 12 CERTIFICATION OF NOMINATION STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER RECOMMENDATION YES. NO. NONE, vale alimae 2/6/85 STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICÉR 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 al Director, Office of Real Estate DATE 2/4/86 (dut "( litla) FOR NPS USE ONLY I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS PROPERTY IS INCLUDED IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER latuch Andus DATE DIRECIOR.

OFFICE OF ARCHEOLOGY AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION DATE 7/12/86 7/15/86 KEEPER OF THE NATIONAL REGISTER GPO 899-214 92.07' 205.24' Commercial Buildings Commercial Buildings POST OFFICE Spring Street Commercial Commercial Buildings Grace Court N United States Post Office - Williamstown, Massachusetts ASO Form - 17 'R" June 198 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET US Post Office--Williamstown Main Berkshire County Subataative Revier MASSACHUSETTS Dresubmission - nomination by person or local government - owner objection - appeal Substantive Review: *sample -request Reviewer's comments: Property appeare eligible, please note corrections recessasy below. -appeal FEB |9 1986 Working No. Fed. Reg.

Date: Date Due: 3/20/56 - 4/5/86 Sat Action: LRETURN 4-1-56 _REJECT Federal Agency: _ USPS -NR decision Recom./Critegia Return Docieino Urchitecteral History 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 Oyes - no Condition -excellent -good -fairR deteriorated -ruins - unexposed Check one -unaltered -altered Describe the present and original (if known) physical appearance L summary paragraph completeness - clarity -J 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 Builder/Architect Statement of Significance (in one paragraph) summary paragraph L completeness -clarity - applicable criteria Jjustification of areas checked - relating significance to the resource context J relationship of integrity to significance iustification of exception Lother 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 emoomn deuctly onto ustsmep s6s map. (Pleaseplox utm Quatiom conamingthi nomintion noy o ainced o.

Beth Seuage (202) 343--9550 Signed fatuich Anlevr - Daro 4/1/06 Phone: Commentsfor any item may be continued on an attached sheet RESUBMISSION 86002243 VASO Form - 17 "R" June 1984 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET Subetentive leriow United States Post Office-- Williamstown Main Berkshire County MASSACHUSETTS Working No._ 2119.86 Fed. Reg. Date: 2/3/87 Date Due: 7/20/86 Action: -ACCEPT 7-19-56 resubmission _RETURN nomination by person or local government _REJECT- owner objection appeal Federal Agency: US PS Substantive Review: #'sample Lrequest Lappeal L NR decision Reviewer's comments: uceee isn Segee F aeseuctive o Date_ AccepxC nayHtonl Techucall corrections addrened. Nomination returned for: _technical corrections cited below _substantive reasons discussed below _ see continuation sheet 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? 7. Description L yes -no Condition -excellent -good fair - deteriorated -ruins -unexposed Check one -unaltered -altered Check one -original site - moved date Describe the present and original (if known) physical appearance J summary paragraph completeness clarity alterations/integrity dates - boundary selection 8.

Significance Period Areas of Significance-Check and justify below Specific dates Statement of Significance (in one paragraph) Builder/Architect J summary paragraph completeness - clarity Japplicable criteria _justification of areas checked -relating significance to the resource context - relationship of integrity to significance -justification of exception Lother 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 State Historic Preservation Officer signature _local title 13.

Other -Maps -Photographs -Other date Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to Signed Date Phone: Comments for any item may be continued on an attached sheet T8/3177 MAIN POST OFFICE WILLIAMSTOWN, MA Williamstown Main Post Office Williamstown, MA David R. Hooker May 6, 1983 Earl R. Flansburgh and Associates Front Elevation 28/31/2 MAIN POST OFFICE WILLIAMSTOWN, MA Williamstown Main Post Office Williamstown, MA David R. Hooker: May 6, 1983 Earl R. Flansburgh and Associates Front elevation. Left view {1/5112 Main Post Office Williamstown, MA Williamstown Main Post Office Williamstown, MA David R. Hooker May 6, 1983 Ear1 R. Flansburgh and Associates Front elevation. Right view MAIN POST OFFICE WILLIAMSTOWN, MA Williamstown Main Post Office Williamstown, MA David R. Hooker May 6, 1983 Earl R.

Flansburgh and Associates Lobby 2/19/86 MATES POSTA ** 1.S.MAIL *** KECEIVED US POSTAL SERVIOE JuL 23 9 25MM *85 FIELD REAL ESTATE AND BUILDINGS OFFICE P.O. Box 324 Lexington, MA 02173-0324 NEW ENGLAMO ESTATE:: -FLD REAL LEXING: FCE June 17, 1985 The Honorable Steven Ledeux Towm Manager, Town of Williamstown Town Hall North Street Williamstown, MA 01267 Dear Chairman Ledeux: The U. S. Postal Service in conjunction with the Massachusetts Historical Commission in Boston has evaluated the Main Post Office in Williamstown 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 Genetal Manager Concur : I, Steven I. Ledoux, Town Manager, concur with this finding if the Post Office makes reasonable accommodation Barrier Free Access to Enclosureits building. JPC/1jr Signed: Steven I. Iedoux Town Manager OVED JUN % : loc0 TOWN MANAGERS OFFICE opoe WILLIAMSTOWN SATES UNITED USMAI SERVICE ******** UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE Real Estate and Buildings Department 475 L'Enfant Plaza, SW Washington, DC 20260-6400 February 14, 1986 Reiò FEB |9 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 63 Spring Street, Berkshire :County, Williamstown, Massachusetts. If you have any guestions concerning this nomination, please call me at 202/268-3107. Realty Specialist, Senior Office of Real Estate Enclosure UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE Facilities Department 475 L'Enfant Plaza. SW Washington. DC 20260-6400 June 2, 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: In response to your reguest for additional documentation, I have attached the following nominations for your further consideration: Post Office - Norwich, Connecticut Post Office - Williamstown, Massachusetts Post Office - Dover, New Hampshire Office - Laconia, New Hampshire - Lancaster, New Hampshire Main Post Office - Littleton, New Hampshire - Peterborough, New Hampshire Main Post Office - Somersworth, New Hampshire If you have any questions concerning this matter, please call me at (202) 268-3107. Sincerel s.

Sorens Realty Specialist, Senior Realty Management Division Office of Real Estate Attachments JN 5 1986 UNITED STANATIONAAR PARN SORVIGE INTERIOR ATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACE VALUATION/RETURN SHEE REQUESTED ACTION: ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION PROPERTY NAME: US Post Office--Williamstown Main MULTIPLE NAME: STATE & COUNTY: MASSACHUSETTS, Berkshire DATE RECEIVED: DATE OF 16TH DAY: DATE OF WEEKLY LIST: 2/14/02 DATE OF PENDING LIST: DATE OF 45TH DAY: 3/31/02 REFERENCE NUMBER: 86002243 NOMINATOR: FEDERAL REASONS FOR REVIEW: APPEAL: OTHER: REQUEST: N N N DATA PROBLEM: N LANDSCAPE: N PDIL: SAMPLE : N PERIOD: N N SLR DRAFT: N LESS THAN 50 YEARS: PROGRAM UNAPPROVED: NATIONAL: N N N COMMENT WAIVER: N VACCEPT RETURN REJECT 3/22/0208 ABSTRACT/SUMMARY COMMENTS : Drstna ratoran DATE 3/23/02 DOCUMENTATION see attached comments Y/N see attached SLR Y/N - I REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES NATIONAL PARK SERVICE FFR | 4 2002 RECEIVED 2:00 The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Massachusetts Historical Commission January 10, 2002 Carol D.

Shull, Keeper, National Register of Historic Places United States Department of the Interior National Park Service 1849 C Street, NW Washington D.C. 20240 Re: Address change for U.S Post Office, Williamstown, (BERKSHIRE CO.),MA Dear Ms. Shull: We are writing to request a technical correction in the National Register records for the above referenced property. The address has been changed from 63 Spring Street to 56 Spring Street. The property was individually listed on the National Register on July 17, 1986. Please let us know if you need additional information. Sincerely, Brona Sumn Brona Simon Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer Massachusetts Historical Commission 220 Morrissey Boulevard, Boston, Massachusetts 02125 (617) 727-8470 - Fax: (617) 727-5128 www.state.ma.us/sec/mhc