US Post Office-Winchester Main
Also known as: Winchester Main Post Office
Why it's listed
Built in 1927 at 48 Waterfield Road, the Winchester Main Post Office is a two-story Neo-Classical building of red brick laid in Flemish bond with beige limestone trim. It sits beside the Aberjona River, facing Ginn Field. The main facade has a classical portico with four freestanding Roman Doric columns, a denticulated limestone entablature and pediment, and an arched fan window over the entrance. The lobby is unaltered, with a clerestory that brings in natural light. It was designed under the Acting Supervising Architect, James A. Wetmore, using a variation of a standard plan. The post office came after years of local effort, including a 1914 bill sponsored by Congressman Samuel W. McCall and funding approved in 1926. It was sited near the railroad depot to help stabilize the Waterfield Road area. The building is recognized for its association with early twentieth-century commercial growth and for its dignified federal design in a small town.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is associated with the commercial development of the Thompson Street and Waterfield Road area of Winchester. It also exemplifies the Treasury Architects' high design standard, placing a monumental Federal presence in a small community without overwhelming the townscape. It retains integrity of location, design, setting, materials and workmanship.
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 87001773, listed October 19, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 48 Waterfield Rd., Winchester |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | October 19, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87001773 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architect / builder | James A. Wetmore, Act. Sup. Arch't.; John P. Curley, Contractor; Edmund J. Rapoli, Contr. for Bonding Company |
| Architectural style | Neo-Classical (Neo-Classic) with Palladian influence |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as occupied, in excellent condition and unaltered in the form's condition checklist; the brick parapet was removed at an early, unknown date. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Within district | Winchester Center Historic District |
| Coordinates | 42.45136, -71.13699 (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 87001773.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7891183
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.