Property Record
335 E WALWORTH AVE
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | DELAVAN POST OFFICE |
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| Other Name: | |
| Contributing: | |
| Reference Number: | 64617 |
| Location (Address): | 335 E WALWORTH AVE |
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| County: | Walworth |
| City: | Delavan |
| Township/Village: | |
| Unincorporated Community: | |
| Town: | |
| Range: | |
| Direction: | |
| Section: | |
| Quarter Section: | |
| Quarter/Quarter Section: |
| Year Built: | 1914 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 19912014 |
| Historic Use: | post office |
| Architectural Style: | Neoclassical/Beaux Arts |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
| Architect: | OSCAR WENDROTH |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Delavan 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 photo code is PO9/12-25 DESCRIPTION: THIS BUILDING IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE CLASSICAL REVIVAL STYLE OF ARCHITECTURE. THE PLAN OF THE BUILDING IS RECTANGULAR WITH THE PUBLIC ENTRY/LOBBY ON THE WALWORTH STREET FACE. A LATER ADDITION HAS BEEN CONSTRUCTED ON THE REAR OF THE BUILDING IN C. 1960. (SEE BIB. REF. B). THE ADDITION IS BUILT OF SIMILAR MATERIALS AND DETAILED MUICH LIKE THE ORIGINAL BUILDING, CONSEQUENTLY, IT IS COMPATABLE. THE ELEVATION IS TWO STORIES HIGH AND SYMMETRICAL. THE ROOF HAS A FLAT SHAPE. THE ENTRY DOORS ARE CENTERED ON THE ELEVATION, AND ALONG WITH THE LOBBY WINDOWS, ARE HIGHLIGHTED WITH BRICK PIERS. THESE PIERS HAVE LIMESTONE BASES AND CAPITALS. THE BUILDING IS BUILT OF LIGHT BROWN BRICK WITH RAKED MORTAR JOINTS. ALL OF THE BUILDING TRIM, INCLUDING WINDOW SILLS, LINTELS, INSETS, COPINGS, AND PROJECITNG CORNCIES ARE OF LIMESTONE. THE WINDOWS, WHICH ARE NOT ORIGINAL, ARE DARK BRONZE AND HAVE AN EIGHT-OVER-EIGHT OR SIX-OVER-SIX PANE CONFIGURATION. THEY DO NOT DETRACT FROM THE BUILDING'S INTEGRITY. THE FRONT STEPS TO THE BUILDING ARE GRANITE WITH FLUTED POLE LAMPS ON EITHER SIDE. THE LAMPS APPEAR TO BE ORIGINALS. THE CORNERSTONE NOTES: "WILLIAM G. MCADOO, SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY, OSCAR WENDROTH, SUPERVISING ARCHITECT, 1914." THE INTERIOR HAS HAD SOME RENOVATIONS DONE TO IT. THE FLOOR IS TERRAZZO WITH A PLASTIC LAMINATE WAINSCOT. THE WALLS ARE PLASTER WITH MARBLE PIERS. THE CEILING IS PLASTER. THERE IS A MURAL ON ONE END OF THE LOBBY DEPICTING VIGNETTES FROM THE CITY'S HISTORY. SOME OF THE WOOD TRIM AT THE DOORS IS ORIGINAL. THE BUILDING, WHICH IS IN GOOD CONDITION, IS LOCATED ON THE MAIN STREET OF DELAVAN'S DOWNTOWN AREA IN THE HEART OF ITS BUSINESS/COMMERCIAL DISTRICT. ARCHITECTURAL/ENGINEERING SIGNIFICANCE: THE ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENTS OF THE BUILIDNG ARE LARGELY INTACT AND THE REAR ADDITION TO THE BUILIDNG IS SYMPATHETIC TO THE ORIGINAL DESIGN AND MATERIALS. SITUATED ON THE EDGE OF THE BUSINESS DISTRICT, THE BUILDING REMAINS A FOCAL POINT IN THE COMMUNITY. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND: THE DELAVAN POST OFFICE IS THE FIRST FEDERALLY OWNED POST OFFICE IN THE COMMUNITY. FOUNDED IN 1836, THE POST OFFICE MOVED FROM LOCATION TO LOCATION WITH THE APPOINTMENT OF EACH POSTMASER UNTIL THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE BUILDING IN 1913. (SEE BIB. REF. C). THIS BUILDING WAS ORIGINALLY OCCUPIED IN OCTOBER OF 1915. Addition is c. 1960. |
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| Bibliographic References: | A. DATE OF CONSTRUCTION: BUILDING CORNERSTONE. B. DATE OF CONSTRUCTION FOR ADDITION: VISUAL ASSESSMENT. C. "HISTORY OF DELAVAN," UNDATED PAMPHLET IN SHSW COLLECTIONS. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |