Property Record
1620 E CAPTIOL DRIVE
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | |
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| Other Name: | U.S. POST OFFICE |
| Contributing: | |
| Reference Number: | 74453 |
| Location (Address): | 1620 E CAPTIOL DRIVE |
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| County: | Milwaukee |
| City: | Shorewood |
| Township/Village: | |
| Unincorporated Community: | |
| Town: | |
| Range: | |
| Direction: | |
| Section: | |
| Quarter Section: | |
| Quarter/Quarter Section: |
| Year Built: | 1937 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 1991 |
| Historic Use: | post office |
| Architectural Style: | Art/Streamline Moderne |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Cream Brick |
| Architect: | LOUIS SIMON; NEAL MELICK |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Not listed |
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| National Register Listing Date: | |
| State Register Listing Date: |
| Additional Information: | GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF POSTAL FACILITY: THE BUILDING IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE ART MODERN STYLE. THE PLAN IS RECTANGULAR WITH THE PUBLIC ENTRY/LOBBY ON THE CAPITOL DRIVE FACE. A LARGE SYMPATHETICALLY DESIGNED ADDITION HAS BEEN ADDED TO THE REAR OF THE BUILDING. THE ELEVATION IS ORGANIZED SYMMETRICALLY ABOUT THE ENTRY DOORS. THE BUILDING IS CONSTRUCTED OF BEIGE BRICK WITH A BRICK BASE AND A LIMESTONE TRIM. THE ENTRY IS RECESSED SLIGHTLY AND ACCENTED WITH FLUTED LIMESTONE PILASTERS, AND SMOOTH PANELS. THERE IS A LIMESTONE CORNICE OVER THE ENTRANCE WITH A CARVED STONE EAGLE AVOVE. THE BALANCE OF THE WINDOWS ARE NOT ORIGINAL. THE ENTRY STAIRS ARE OF GRANITE WITH A LIMESTONE PORCH. THE ORIGINAL LAMPS ARE ON EITHER SIDE. A HANDICAP RAMP HAS BEEN ADDED TO THE BUILDING. IT DOES NOT DETRACT FROM THE INTREGRITY OF THE BUILDING. THE LOBBY HAS THE ORIGINAL TERRAZZO FLOOR AND MARBLE WAINSCOT. THE WALLS AND CEILING ARE OF PLASTER. THE BUILDING, WHICH IS IN GOOD CONDITION, IS LOCATED ON A MAIN STREET IN THE VILLAGE'S COMMERCIAL/BUSINESS DISTRICT. ARCHITECTURAL/ENGINEERING SIGNIFICANCE: THE SHOREWOOD POST OFFICE IS THE MOST FORMAL COMPOSITION OF TWO THAT HAVE SIMILAR DESIGN FEATURES. THE MOST SIGNIFICANT CHANGE TO THE BUILDING IS THAT MANY OF THE WINDOWS ARE NOT ORIGINAL. IT IS NOT FELT THAT THIS POST OFFICE MEETS THE CRITERIA OF ELIGIBILITY FOR LISTING IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND: THIS BUILDING IS THE FIRST FEDERALLY-OWNED POST OFFICE IN SHOREWOOD. PRIOR TO CONSTRUCTION OF THIS BUILDING, POSTAL SERVICES WERE CONDUCTED IN VARIOUS LOCATIONS SELECTED BY A SERIES OF LOCAL POSTMASTERS. THIS POST OFFICE, WHICH WAS ORIGINALLY OCCUPIED IN NOVEMBER OF 1937, WAS ONE OF SEVERAL CONSTRUCTED IN WISCONSIN BY THE FEDERAL PUBLIC WORKS ADMINISTRATION IN THE 1930'S. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF SIGNIFICANT HISTORIC INFLUENCES OR EVENTS IN THE COMMUNITY AS A RESULT OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF THIS POST OFFICE. |
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| Bibliographic References: | A. DATE OF CONSTRUCTION, DESIGNERS' NAMES: POST OFFICE RECORDS. Architecture/History Survey. October 2008. Prepared by Carol Lohry Cartwright. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |