Property Record
122 S PEARL ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Berlin Post Office |
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| Other Name: | U.S. POST OFFICE |
| Contributing: | Yes |
| Reference Number: | 48475 |
| Location (Address): | 122 S PEARL ST |
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| County: | Green Lake |
| City: | Berlin |
| Township/Village: | |
| Unincorporated Community: | |
| Town: | |
| Range: | |
| Direction: | |
| Section: | |
| Quarter Section: | |
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| Year Built: | 1936 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 1990 |
| Historic Use: | post office |
| Architectural Style: | Art/Streamline Moderne |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
| Architect: | LOUIS A. SIMON |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Berlin Post Office |
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| 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 Wisconsin Historical Society, State Historic Preservation Office. THE F IN THE PHOTO CODES STANDS FOR FOX CANAL SURVEY. THE PHOTO CODES 17/15-25 ARE PREFIXED BY THE LETTERS "PO." DESCRIPTION: THE BUILDING IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE ART MODERNE STYLE. THE PLAN IS RECTANGULAR WITH THE PUBLIC ENTRANCE/LOBBY ON THE PEARL STREET SIDE. THE ELEVATION IS ORGANIZED SYMMETRICALLY ABOUT THE ENTRY DOORS. THE BUILDING IS CONSTRUCTED OF TAN BRICK EXTERIOR WALLS WITH LIMESTONE WINDOW SILLS. THE FOUNDATION IS ALSO MADE OF BRICK. THE ROOF IS FLAT WITH THE WALL COPING BEING GRANITE AND METAL. THE ENTRANCE IS HIGHLIGHTED WITH SLIGHTLY CURVED LIMESTONE PANELS THAT EXTEND THE FULL HEIGHT OF THE BUILDING. THE WINDOWS ARE ORIGINAL, DOUBLE HUNG, AND CONSTRUCTED OF WOOD. THEY ARE SET IN RECESSED PANELS. THEY HAVE TWELVE-OVER-TWELVE AND NINE-OVER-NINE PANE CONFIGURATIONS. THE ENTRY STAIRS ARE GRANITE WITH METAL POLE LAMPS ON EITHER SIDE. THE BUILDING CORNERSTONE NOTES: "HENRY MORGENTHAU, JR., SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY, JAMES A. FARLEY, POSTMASTER GENERAL, LOUIS A. SIMON, SUPERVISING ARCHITECT, NEAL MELICK, SURPERVISING ENGINEER, 1936." THE BUILDING HAS THE ORIGINAL TERRAZZO FLOOR AND MARBLE WAINSCOT. THE WALLS AND CEILING ARE OF PLASTER. THE ORIGINAL WOOD VESTIBULE AND TRIM REMAIN AS WELL. THERE IS A MURAL ON ONE END OF THE LOBBY. THE BUILDING, WHICH IS IN GOOD CONDITION, IS LOCATED ON THE FRINGE OF THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESS DISTRICT ADJACENT TO A RESIDENTIAL AREA. ARCHITECTURAL/ENGINEERING SIGNIFICANCE: THE BERLIN POST OFFICE IS IDENTICAL TO THE ONE IN ELKHORN EXCEPT THAT THE WINODW OVER THE MAIN ENTRANCE HAS BEEN REPLACED AND THE ORIGINAL ENTRANCE LIGHT STANDARDS ARE INTACT. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND: THIS BUILDING IS THE FIRST FEDERALLY OWNED POST OFFICE IN BERLIN. PRIOR TO CONSTRUCTION OF THIS BUILDING, POSTAL SERVICES WERE CONDUCTED IN VARIOUS LOCATION SELECTED BY A SERIES OF LOCAL POSTMASTERS. POSTAL SERVICE IN BERLIN DATES FROM 1846. THIS POSTAL STATION BUILDING WAS ORIGINALLY OCCUPIED IN JUNE OF 1937. THIS POST OFFICE WAS ONE OF SEVERAL CONSTRUCTED IN WISCONSIN BY THE FEDERAL PUBLIC WORKS ADMINISTRATION IN THE 1930S. (SEE BIB. REF. C). THERE IS A MURAL IN THE LOBBY OF THE BUILIDNG PAINTED BY RAY RUDELL, A WPA ARTIST, ENTITLED "HARVESTING CRANBERRIES." (SEE BIB. REF. D). |
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| Bibliographic References: | A. DATE OF CONSTRUCTION: BUILDING CORNERSTONE. B. GILLETT, LULUBELLE C., "EARLY HOUSES IN BERLIN, WISCONSIN AND THE PEOPLE HWO LIVED IN THEM," STEVENS POINT, 1976, N.P. C. "AMERICAN BUILDINGS: THE RECORD OF THE PWA," PUBLIC WORKS ADMINISTRATION, WASHINGTON, D.C., 1939, APPENDIX. D. RECONNAISSANCE FILE, SHSW. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |