| 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 State Historical Society, Division of Historic Preservation.
THE P APPEARING AS A PREFIX TO 10/22-23 IN THE PHOTO CODES IS SHORT FOR PO.
THIS BUILDING IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE GEORGIAN REVIVAL STYLE. THE PLAN OF THE BUILIDING IS T-SHAPED WITH THE PUBLIC ENTRANCE/LOBBY ON THE SWIFT STREET FACE. THE FORNT SECTION OF THE BUILDING IS COVERED WITH A STANDING SEAM METAL ROOF, GABLE IN FORM. A WOOD CUPOLA IS CENTERED ON THIS ROOF. THE SWIFT STREET ELEVATION IS SYMMETRICAL ABOUT THE ENTRANCE. THE WOOD, DOUBLE HUNG WINDOWS, WITH A TWELVE-OVER-TWELVE PANE CONFIGURATION APPEAR TO BE ORIGINAL, HOWEVER, ALUMINUM STORM WINDOWS HAVE BEEN ADDED. THESE DO NOT DETRACT FROM THE INTEGRITY OF THE WINDOWS. THE ENTRACE DOOR AND SIDE LIGHT ARE NOT ORIGINAL. THE ENTRY DOOR IS TRIMMED WITH FLUTED COLUMNS SUPPORTING A CORNICE WITH DENTIL MOLDING. BETWEEN THE COLUMN AND OVER THE DOOR IS A WOOD FRAMED, GLASS TRANSOM PANEL THAT APPEARS TO BE ORIGINAL. THE ENTRY IS CUT INTO THE BRICK WALL BELOW A DEPRESSED ARCH. A RELIEF EAGLE IS LOCATED ABOVE THE CORNICE, BELOW THE ARCH. ALL OF THE ENTRY TRIM IS WOOD AND IS PAINTED WHITE.
THE BUILDING IS CONSTRUCTED OF A REDDISH BROWN BRICK ON A LIMESTONE AND GRANITE BASE. PIERS OF THE SAME BRICK ACCENT THE CORNERS OF THE BUILDING AND PROVIDE SOME RELIEF TO THE ELEVATION. THE WINDOW SILLS AND HEADS ARE ALSO LIMESTONE. THE ROOF FASCIA IS WOOD WITH DENTIL MOLDING. THE SAME TRIM IS ON THE GABLED ENDS OF THE BUILDING, FOLLOWING THE FORM OF THE ROOF. THERE ARE HALF ROUND WOOD WINDOWS LOCATED IN THE GABLES AT EITHER SIDE OF THE BUILDING. THE ENTRY STAIRS ARE OF GRANITE WITH A PAINTED METAL RAILING AND POLE LAMPS ON EITHER SIDE. THE CORNERSTONE NOTES, "JAMES A. FARLEY, POSTMASTER GENERAL, JOHN M. CARMODY, FEDERAL WORKS ADMINISTRATOR, W. ENGLEBERT REYNOLDS, COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS, LOUIS A. SIMON, SUPERVISING ARCHITECT, NEAL A. MELICK SUPERVISING ENGINEER, 1939."
THE INTERIOR HAS THE ORIGINAL TERRAZZO FLOOR AND MARBLE WAINSCOT, AS WELL AS THE ORIGINAL STAINED WOOD VESTIBULE. THE WALLS AND CEILING ARE OF PLASTER AND APPEAR TO BE ORIGINAL, ALTHOUGH NEW LIGHTING HAS BEEN ADDED. THE STAINED WOOD TRIM AROUND THE POST OFFICE BOXES, WINDOWS AND DOORS REMAIN. THERE IS A WALL MOUNTED MURAL AT ONE END OF THE LOBBY. THE BUILDING, WHICH IS IN GOOD CONDITION, IS LOCATED ON A STREET OFF OF THE MAIN THOROUGHFARE IN A COMMERCIAL DISTRICT.
ARCTITECTURAL/ENGINEERING SIGNIFICANCE:
THIS IS ONE OF TWO POST OFFICES SURVEYED WHICH WERE DESIGNED SIMILARLY. OF THE TWO, THIS EXAMPLE FEATURES A TRANSOM OVER THE DOOR AND IS EXECUTED IN BRICK, WHEREAS ITS TWIN IN DEPERE IS EXECUTED IN LANNONSTONE.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:
THIS BUILDING IS THE FIRST FEDERALLLY-OWNED POST OFFICE IN EDGERTON. PRIOR TO ITS CONSTRUCTION IN 1939, POSTAL FUNCTIONS WERE LOCATED IN A SERIES OF LOCATIONS OWNED OR LEASED BY EACH POSTMASTER. THE FIRST POST OFFICE IN EDGERTON WAS FOUNDED 1853 AND THE FIRST POSTMASTER WAS WILLIAM HALL. (SEE BIB. REF. B).
THE BUILDING WAS ORIGINALLY OCCUPIED IN JUNE OF 1940.
THE EDGERTON POST OFFICE IS ONE OF SEVERAL BUILT IN THE STATE UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE PUBLIC WORKS ADMINISTRATION FROM 1933 TO 1939. INCLUDED OF NOTE IN THIS BUILDING IS A MURAL UNDERTAKEN AS PART OF THE FEDERAL W.P.A. ARTISTS PROGRAM. THE ARTIST OF THIS PARTICULAR WORK IS NOT IDENTIFIED. (SEE BIB. REF. C). |
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| Bibliographic References: | A. DATE OF CONSTRUCTION: BUILDING CORNERSTONE.
B. BROWN, WILLIAM FISK, "ROCK COUNTY, WISCONSIN," VOL. 2, CHICAGO, 1908.
C. "AMERICA BUILDS: THE RECORD OF THE PWA," PUBLIC WORKS ADMINISRRATION, WASHINGTON, D.C., 1939, APPENDIX. |
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