Two pineapples and an urn set atop the front door of this busy building.
This is the United States Post Office, 115 North Chauncey Street. Built in 1935, our Post Office building is an example of the Colonial Revival style used for many federal buildings across the country by the Public Works Administration. The Treasury Department developed standardized, efficient, floor plans and recommended a handful of architectural styles for these buildings.
The Colonial Revival style combines features of the Georgian, Federalist, and other styles of the 1700s. The dark brick with contrasting mortar, arched windows with stone keystones, and pediment with decorative pineapples and urn details over the front door are all aspects of this eclectic style.
Also memorable for long-time residents was the fallout/storm shelter sign that directed the public to the basement stairway until the 1990s.
Thank you to Nathan Bilger for providing the recent photos and valuable insights into the architectural history.
