US Post Office-Holyoke Main
Also known as: Holyoke Main Post Office
Why it's listed
Holyoke's main post office at 650 Dwight Street is a limestone building designed in 1933, begun that November and completed in 1934. Considered modernistic in its day, it has a two-story central block flanked by one-story wings, pink granite steps and foundation, bronze-framed entrances and carved eagle panels above the doors. Its zigzag cap and shallow stepped window recesses give the exterior a restrained Art Deco character modeled on the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington. Inside, a terrazzo floor, marble wainscot and a 1936 mural by Ross Moffett showing a landing by early settlers survive. The building drew public attention during planning: residents objected when architects proposed a brick rear wall to save $4,000, and a low bid ensured limestone on all four sides. About twenty sites were weighed before the Dwight Street location won approval. Windows have been replaced and skylights covered, but the building remains in good condition and in postal use.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents the building as a significant example of Art Deco architecture, styled after the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, D.C. Its design relies on proportion, stone jointing and shallow reveals instead of cornices, columns and heavy ornament. The form also notes local public interest in its construction, including opposition to a brick rear wall and debate over the site.
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 86000122, listed January 21, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 650 Dwight St., Holyoke |
|---|---|
| County | Hampden County |
| Listed | January 21, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86000122 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | George P.B. Alderman & Co. of Holyoke and Thomas M. James & Co. of Boston (architects); Tremaglio Brothers, Builders |
| Architectural style | Art Deco |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition with minimal alterations; still in use as the main post office, though the second floor is virtually unused. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 42.20817, -72.61001 (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 86000122.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7891142
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.