US Post Office-Waltham Main
Also known as: Waltham Main Post Office
Why it's listed
Waltham's main post office, at 774 Main Street, is a compact T-shaped building of red brick laid in English bond, with a granite base and limestone trim. Its cornerstone was laid on August 7, 1935, and it was dedicated on March 14, 1936. The design came from the office of Supervising Architect Louis A. Simon, with the Boston firm Wadsworth, Hubbard & Smith as local architects. The building reflects Public Works Administration policies of the Depression era, which favored economy, standardization and functionalism. Its simplified classical form, locally made brick, minimal ornament and six-area plan allowed construction in about eight months. Inside, a two-story public lobby has green marble wainscot and checkerboard terrazzo flooring. The original appropriation of $70,000 was later raised to $120,000, and construction provided jobs to Waltham residents during hard economic times. The building stands on a former stretch of the Old Boston Post Road, in an area now dominated by small retail businesses.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building represents Public Works Administration construction and design policies of the Depression, emphasizing economy, standardization and functionalism. Its style blends simplified classicism with a streamlined modern approach, described as "starved classicism". Its form, local brick and six-area plan allowed an eight-month construction schedule. The reviewer accepted it under Criterion C as a relatively intact local example of the style.
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 86001248, listed May 30, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 774 Main St., Waltham |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | May 30, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86001248 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architect / builder | Wadsworth, Hubbard & Smith, Boston, Architects; Leighton & Mitchell Co., Boston, Builders; Louis A. Simon, Supervising Architect |
| Architectural style | Simplified classicism blended with a modern, streamlined approach ("starved classicism") |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Overall the building and its corner property are in good condition; the form marks the property as occupied and altered, with replacement aluminum and glass entrance doors. |
| Acreage | 0.8 |
| Coordinates | 42.37596, -71.24132 (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 86001248.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7891178
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.