US Post Office-Taunton Main
Also known as: Taunton Main Post Office
Why it's listed
Facing the western side of Taunton Green, this limestone post office was designed in 1930 and built in 1932 by J. & J. Whelan, Inc. It has two stories over a full basement, a trapezoidal plan, and a recessed portico of seven bays with Tuscan columns, a raised central pediment, a denticulated cornice and a shielded eagle. Inside, the lobby shows a restrained Art-Deco character, with bronze friezes, original terrazzo flooring and marble wainscoting. The building was authorized under the 1930 amendment to the Public Buildings Act of 1926, as the Hoover Administration funded federal construction to stimulate the building trades during the Depression. The work provided about nineteen months of income for many families. It was the last building completed on the Green and sits among Colonial Revival and Romanesque neighbors. It is valued as an example of the federal presence expressed through classical design, and for its place in the Taunton Green Historic District.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is the last building completed on Taunton Green and that its classical presence unifies the varied neighboring historic buildings. It is also presented as a visible symbol of the federal government's role during the Great Depression. It meets criteria A and C.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 86003476, listed October 19, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 37 Taunton Green, Taunton |
|---|---|
| County | Bristol County |
| Listed | October 19, 1987 |
| Reference number | 86003476 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architect / builder | James A. Wetmore, Act. Sup. Arch't. (architect); J. & J. Whelan, Inc., Contrs. (builder) |
| Architectural style | Late Neo-Classic, with a restrained Art-Deco lobby |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as occupied, in excellent condition, unaltered and on its original site; present use is government. |
| Acreage | 0.4 |
| Within district | Taunton Green Historic District |
| Coordinates | 41.90189, -71.09427 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 86003476.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7891177
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.