Property Record
215 W CONANT ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | United States Post Office |
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| Other Name: | U.S. Post Office |
| Contributing: | |
| Reference Number: | 51374 |
| Location (Address): | 215 W CONANT ST |
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| County: | Columbia |
| City: | Portage |
| Township/Village: | |
| Unincorporated Community: | |
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| Year Built: | 1934 |
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| Additions: | 1967 |
| Survey Date: | 1992 |
| Historic Use: | post office |
| Architectural Style: | Colonial Revival/Georgian Revival |
| Structural System: | Unknown |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
| Architect: | LOUIS A. SIMON |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Not listed |
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| National Register Listing Date: | |
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| Additional Information: | A 'site file' exists for this property. It contains additional information such as correspondence, newspaper clippings, or historical information. It is a public record and may be viewed in person at the Wisconsin Historical Society, Division of Historic Preservation-Public History. ANOTHER MAP CODE FOR THIS STRUCTURE IS 31/17. THE PHOTO CODES, 13/2-13 ARE PREFIXED BY THE LETTERS "PO." The building is a simple example of the Georgian Revival style as applied to a vernacular form. The original plan is rectangular with major additions to the sides and rear. The public entrance/lobby is on the Conant Street elevation. The center section of the building is original with additions on either side and the rear. One of these additions includes covered parking stalls now on the front elevation. The front elevation of the original building is organized symmetrically about the entry doors and side windows. The entry section is pulled out from the building and the center section is raised slightly. The building is constructed of red brick with a small amount of limestone trim, and a brick foundation. The entry door frame and side windows af wood with rounded tops and are original. The balance of the windows are set in recessed brick panels. The windows throughout the building are highlighted with brick corbeling. The front entry steps and handicap ramp are of concrete with metal handrails. The building cornerstone notes: "Henry Morgenthau, Jr., Secretary of the Treasury, James A. Farley, Postmaster General, Louis A. Simon, Supervising Architect, Neal A. Melick, Supervising Entineer, 1934." The interior of the building has a terrazzo floor, with plaster laminate wainscot. The walls and eiling are plaster and an aluminum framed vestibule has been added. The building, which is in good condition, is lcoated in the city's downtown business district. A structure related to this postal station is a garage; No further description of this particular garage was given. ARCHITECTURAL/ENGINEERING SIGNIFICANCE: This simplified example of Georgian Revival commercial architecture has been substantially expanded by modern additions. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND: This building, which was originally occupied in June of 1935, is the first federally-owned Post Office in Portage. Prior to construction of this building, postal services were conducted in various locations selected by a series of local postmasters. Postal service in Portage dates from 1831 and the first Postmaster was John Kinze who was the first Indian Agent at Fort Winnebago. (See Bib. Ref. B). This Post Office was one of several constructed in Wisconsin by the federal Public Works Administration in the 1930's. |
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| Bibliographic References: | A. Building Cornerstone. B. Butterfield, C.W., History of Columbia County, Wisconsin, Vol. 2, Chicago, 1880, pp. 652-3. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |