Property Record
57 E MAIN ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Chilton Post Office |
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| Other Name: | U. S. Post Office |
| Contributing: | |
| Reference Number: | 2921 |
| Location (Address): | 57 E MAIN ST |
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| County: | Calumet |
| City: | Chilton |
| Township/Village: | |
| Unincorporated Community: | |
| Town: | |
| Range: | |
| Direction: | |
| Section: | |
| Quarter Section: | |
| Quarter/Quarter Section: |
| Year Built: | 1938 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 1991 |
| Historic Use: | post office |
| Architectural Style: | Colonial Revival/Georgian Revival |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
| Architect: | CHARLES WINSTANLEY THWAITES; Louis A. Simon; Neal Melick |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Chilton 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. ANOTHER MAP CODE FOR THIS POSTAL STATION IS PO-O. WPA MURAL INSIDE "THRESHING BARLEY" BY CHARLES WINSTANLEY THWAITES. THIS BUILDING IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE GEORGIAN REVIVAL STYLE. THE PLAN IS RECTANGULAR WITH THE PUBLIC ENTRANCE/LOBBY ON THE MAIN STREET FACADE. THE FRONT SECTION OF THE BUILDING IS COVERED WITH A STANDING SEAM METAL HIP ROOF WHILE THE REAR SECTION, INCLUDING THE LOADING DOCK, HAS A FLAT ROOF. THE ELEVATION IS ORGANIZED SYMMETRICALLY ABOUT THE ENTRANCE DOORS. THE BUILDING IS BUILT OF RED BRICK ON A CONCRETE BASE. THE WINDOW SILLS AND LINTELS ARE OF SANDSTONE. THERE IS A SANDSTONE FASCIA AND CORNICE ENGRAVED WITH THE BUILDINGS' NAME THAT EXTENDS AROUND THE PERIMETER OF THE BUILDING. THE WINDOWS ARE ORIGINAL, IN AN 8 OVER 8 PANE CONFIGURATION, AND ARE SET IN RECESSED BRICK PANELS. THE ENTRY DOORS ARE DARK BRONZE ALUMINUM AND ITS TRIM AND TRANSOM PANEL ARE WHITE. THERE IS A METAL EAGLE OVER THE DOOR. THE ENTRANCE STAIRS ARE GRANITE AND CONCRETE WITH A PAINTED METAL RAILING. THE BULDING CORNERSTONE NOTES: "HENRY MORGENTHAU, JR., SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY, JAMES A. FARLEY, POSTMASTER GENERAL, LOUIS A. SIMON, SUPERVISING ARCHITECT, NEAL A. MELICK, SUPERVISING ENGINEER, 1938." THE INTERIOR HAS A TERRAZZO FLOOR AND MARBLE WAINSCOT. THE WALLS AND CEILING AND PLASTER AND THE LIGHT FIXTURES ARE NOT ORIGINAL. HOWEVER, THE ORIGINAL STAINED WOOD TRIM AND VESTIBULE REMAIN. AN ADDITION WAS BUILT AT AN UNSPECIFIED DATE. THERE IS A MURAL ON ONE END OF THE LOBBY THAT IS SIGNED "C.W. THWAITES AUG. 8/40." THE BUILDING, WHICH IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION, IS LOCATED ON THE MAIN STREET OF CHILTON, AT THE FRINGE OF THE BUSINESS/COMMERCIAL DISTRICT. THIS POSTAL STATION WAS ORIGINALLY OCCUPIED IN JUNE OF 1940. ARCHITECTURAL/ENGINEERING SIGNIFICANCE: THIS IS ONE OF FOUR POST OFFICES SURVEYED WHICH WERE DESIGNED IN A SIMPLIFIED GEORGIAN REVIVAL STYLE. THIS VERSION FEATURES 8 OVER 8 LIGHT DOUBLE HUNG WINDOWS WITH A STONE LINTEL IN THE CENTER OF THE PANELS RECESSED BETWEEN BRICK PILASTERS. THE SLIGHTLY MORE ORNATE VERSION OF WAUPUN FEATURES STONE PILASTERS WHILE THE LESS ORNATE VERSION IN JEFFERSON HAS NO PILASTERS. |
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| Bibliographic References: | A. DATE OF CONSTRUCTION: BUILDING CORNERSTONE. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |