Property Record
1516 18TH ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | U.S. POST OFFICE |
|---|---|
| Other Name: | U.S. POST OFFICE |
| Contributing: | |
| Reference Number: | 30202 |
| Location (Address): | 1516 18TH ST |
|---|---|
| County: | Manitowoc |
| City: | Two Rivers |
| Township/Village: | |
| Unincorporated Community: | |
| Town: | |
| Range: | |
| Direction: | |
| Section: | |
| Quarter Section: | |
| Quarter/Quarter Section: |
| Year Built: | 1933 |
|---|---|
| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 1991 |
| Historic Use: | post office |
| Architectural Style: | Colonial Revival/Georgian Revival |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
| Architect: | Perce G. Schley; James Wetmore |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Two Rivers Post Office |
|---|---|
| National Register Listing Date: | 10/24/2000 |
| National Register Multiple Property Name: |
| 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 State Historical Society, Division of Historic Preservation. Photo codes 4/0-13 are filed with the Post Office negatives. ORIGINALLY OCCUPIED 6/1933. The building is an example of the Georgian Revival style. The plan is irregular with the public entrance/lobby located on the 18th Street face. The front section of the building is covered with a shingled hip roof. The rear section has a flat roof. The elevation is organized symmetrically about the entry doors. The wall panels at the corners of the front elevation project out, allowing the entry to appear recessed. The walls are constructed of red brick on a limestone base. The corners of the brick walls are accented with limestone quoining. There is a brick parapet above the cornice area within limetone balusters. As previously mentioned the entry is recessed slightly and highlighted by limestone plasters approximately 15 feet high. There is a carved eagle over the transom over the main entrance. The building trim including fascia, denticulated cornice and copings are pf limestone. The original wood double hung windows have a 12 over 12 pave configuration. The entry stairs are of granite with concrete sides. The building cornerstone notes: "William H. Woodin, Secretary of the Treasury, James A. Farley, Postmaster General, Lawrence W. Robert, Jr., Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, James A. Wetmore, Acting Supervising Architect, George Shley and Sons, Perce G. Schley, Architect, 1933. The interior has a terrazzo floor and marble wainscot. The walls and ceiling are plaster. There is a cove with dentil molding at the ceiling. The building has the original wood vestibule and trim and there is a green marble arch. The building is located in the downtown business district. The Two Rivers Post Office is an excellent, intact example of the Georgian Revival style of architecture as applied to this type of facility. It is recommended for listing in the National Register of Historic Places under Criteria C, architecture. This building is the first federally owned Post Office in Two Rivers. Prior to construction in 1933, postal functions were carried out at a variety of locations depending upon who the postmaster was. Postals ervice began in Two Rivers in 1848 and the first Postmaster was Henry A. Tefft. |
|---|---|
| Bibliographic References: | (A) Building cornerstone. (B) Falge, Dr. Louis, History of Manitowoc County, Wisconsin, Vol. I, Chicago, 1912, p. 420. "Work to Start on New Post Office at Two Rivers," Image and caption, The Milwaukee Journal, 30 October 1932. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |