US Post Office-Wakefield Main
Why it's listed
Built in 1936 and dedicated in January 1937, the Wakefield Main Post Office sits on Main Street at Yale Avenue, between the Beebe Public Library and the YMCA. Boston architect Edward M. Bridge designed it under the Treasury's Supervising Architect, and A.J. Long Construction Co. built it. The front facade has a three-bay limestone center entrance with paired Doric columns and a pediment, flanked by Flemish bond brick bays, limestone pilasters and a Tuscan entablature. Marble reliefs of Washington and Franklin by Fortunato Tarquinio decorate the front. A 1969 rear addition more than doubled the building's size, and aluminum doors replaced the original bronze-framed ones in 1972. The building was listed for its connection to Depression-era federal efforts to ease unemployment through construction, and for its Classical Revival design, which gives a bold federal presence while unifying the neighborhood. Its site, the former Yale-Stearns homestead, had earlier ties to local postmasters.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is locally significant for its link to the Federal Government's Depression-era efforts to relieve unemployment and stimulate the economy through public construction. It is also presented as a fine example of Classical Revival federal architecture and of the work of Boston architect Edward M. Bridge, whose design harmonizes with its neighbors.
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 86003439, listed October 19, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 321 Main St., Wakefield |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | October 19, 1987 |
| Reference number | 86003439 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architect / builder | Edward M. Bridge, Architect; A.J. Long Construction Co. |
| Architectural style | Neo-Classic / Classical Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Marked occupied and in excellent condition, with altered features including a 1969 rear addition and 1972 replacement entrance doors. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.50360, -71.16951 (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 86003439.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7891179
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.