Property Record
213 W CENTER ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Whitewater Post Office |
|---|---|
| Other Name: | U.S. POST OFFICE - WHITEWATER |
| Contributing: | |
| Reference Number: | 23223 |
| Location (Address): | 213 W CENTER ST |
|---|---|
| County: | Walworth |
| City: | Whitewater |
| Township/Village: | |
| Unincorporated Community: | |
| Town: | |
| Range: | |
| Direction: | |
| Section: | |
| Quarter Section: | |
| Quarter/Quarter Section: |
| Year Built: | 1936 |
|---|---|
| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 2007 |
| Historic Use: | post office |
| Architectural Style: | Colonial Revival/Georgian Revival |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
| Architect: | Louis Simon; NEAL MELICK |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Whitewater 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 Wisconsin Historical Society, Division of Historic Preservation. Post office DOE 7/17/89. Also part of the potential Downtown Historic District. THE P IN THE PHOTO CODES STANDS FOR PO. THE BUILDING IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE THE GEORGIAN REVIVAL STYLE. THE PLAN IS L-SHAPED WITH THE PUBLIC ENTRANCE/LOBBY ON THE CENTER STREET FACE. THE ELEVATION IS ORGANIZED SYMMETRICALLY ABOUT THE ENTRY DOORS. THE ENTRY IS EMPHASIZED BY SLIGHTLY RAISING THE HEIGHT OF THE PARAPET OVER THE ENTRY. THE BUILDING IS COSTRUCTED OF RED BRICK ON A CONCRETE BASE. ALL OF THE TRIM IS PAINTED STONE EXCEPT FOR THE WALL COPING. THE ENTRY DOORS HAVE A SEMI-CIRCULAR TRANSOM PANEL WITH AN IRON GRILLE THAT IS ORIGINAL ABOVE THEM. THE ENTRY IS TRIMMED WITH A PAINTED STONE ARCH. NEW STORM WINDOWS HAVE BEEN INSTALLED OVER THE ORIGINAL WOOD DOUBLE HUNG WINDOWS. THE WINDOWS HAVE A 12 OVER 12 PANE CONFIGURATION. THE ENTRY STAIRS ARE EXPOSED AGGREGATE CONCRETE. THE WING AT THE REAR IS THE SAME HEIGHT AS THE MAIN BLOCK, BUT HAS TWO FLOORS. THE UPPER FLOOR WINDOWS FEATURE SIX-OVER-SIX LIGHTS. THERE IS A LOADING DOCK AT THE REAR. THIS POSTAL STATION IS IN GOOD CONDITION. THE INTERIOR OF THE BUILIDNG HAS THE ORIGINAL TILE FLOOR. THE ORIGINAL WOOD WAINSCOT, TRIM AND VESTIBULE ARE ALL PAINTED. THE WALLS AND CIELING ARE PLASTER. THE BUILDING IS LOCATED OFF THE MAIN STREET IN WHITEWATER, IN A BUSINESS/COMMERCIAL DISTRICT. ARCHITECTURAL/ENGINEERING SIGNIFICANCE: THE WHITEWATER POST OFFICE IS AN INTACT EXAMPLE OF A SMALL CITY POST OFFICE DESIGNED WITH ELEMENTS OF THE GEORGIAN REVIVAL STYLE. THE ORIGINAL ENTRY DOOR HAS BEEN REPLACED, BUT ALL OTHER ELEMENTS APPEAR INTACT. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND: THIS BUILIDNG, WHICH WAS ORIGINALLY OCCUPIED IN JUNE OF 1936, IS THE FIRST FEDERALLY-OWNED POST OFFICE IN WHITEWATER. PRIOR TO CONSTRUCTION OF THIS BUILDING, POSTAL SERVICES WERE CONDUCTED IN VARIOUS LOCATIONS SELECTED BY A SERIES OF LOCAL POSTMASTERS. POSTAL SERVICE IN WHITEWATER DATES FROM 1840 AND THE FIRST POSTMASTER WAS D.J. POWERS. (SEE BIB. REF. B). THIS POST OFFICE WAS ONE OF SEVERAL CONSTRUCTED IN WISCONSIN BY THE FEDERAL PUBLIC WORKS ADMINISRATION IN THE 1930'S |
|---|---|
| Bibliographic References: | A. DATE OF CONSTRUCTION - POSTAL SERVICE RECORDS. B. GROVATH. PROSPER, "EARLY ANNALS OF WHITEWATER, 1837-1867," WHITEWATER, 1906, P. 44. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |