Property Record
104 E MAIN ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | U. S. Post Office |
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| Other Name: | U.S. Post Office |
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| Reference Number: | 72749 |
| Location (Address): | 104 E MAIN ST |
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| County: | Ozaukee |
| City: | Port Washington |
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| Year Built: | 1937 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 19912022 |
| Historic Use: | post office |
| Architectural Style: | Neoclassical/Beaux Arts |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
| Architect: | Louis Simon |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Not listed |
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| Additional Information: | HISTORICAL BACKGROUND: This building, which was originally occupied in January of 1938, is the first federally-owned Post Office in Port Washington. Prior to construction of this building, postal services were conducted in various locations selected by a series of local postmasters. Postal service in Port Washington dates from 1843 and the first Postmaster was O.A. Watrous. This post office was one of several constructed in Wisconsin by the federal Public Works Administration in the 1930s. (See Bib. Ref. C). DESCRIPTION: The building is an example of the Art Moderne style. The plan is rectilinear with the public entrance/lobby on the Main Street face. The elevation is organized symmetrically about the etry door. The building is constructed of tan brick with limestone trim. The windows are set in recessed panels with limestone trim. The original wood double hung windows with a 12 over 12 pane configuration, remain but have had aluminum storm windows added to them. There are limestone relief panels over a train, boat, and plane. The entry stairs are granite with limestone sides. There are pole lamps as well as a painted black metal railing at this stair that appear to be original. This postal station is in good condition. The cornerstone notes: "Henry Morgenthau, Jr., Secretary of the Treasury, James A. Farley, Postmaster General, Louis A. Simon, Supervising Architect, Neal A. Melick, Supervising Engineer, 1937." The interior has the original tile floor and marble wainscot. The walls and ceiling are of plaster. The original wood trim and vestibule also remain. The building is located on a major street in the city's business/civic district, near the county courthouse. ARCHITECTURAL/ENGINEERING SIGNIFICANCE: This is one of four Post Offices surveyed with the same basic design. Similar designs in Prairie du Chien and Shawano have had windows replaced. The Kewaunee example approaches them in integrity and quality of execution. |
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| Bibliographic References: | (A) Date of construction - Building cornerstone. (B) "History of Washington and Ozaukee Counties, Wisconsin," Chicago, 1881. (C) "America Builds: The Record of the PWA," Public Works Administration, Washington, D.C., 1939, Appendix. Port Washington, Wisconsin Self-Guided Historic Walking Tours, Spring 2000. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |