US Post Office-Quincy Main
Also known as: Quincy Main Post Office
Why it's listed
Quincy's main post office on Washington Street is a monumental Classical Revival building faced in Indiana limestone on a granite base. Construction began in October 1907 and the building opened on February 28, 1909, designed in the office of Treasury Supervising Architect James Knox Taylor. Across the street stands H.H. Richardson's Romanesque Crane Library, and the two buildings contrast restrained, symmetrical classicism with irregular, richly textured Romanesque design. In 1933 the interior was gutted, a large rear workroom and a second floor were added, and federal offices moved upstairs. The $240,000 project gave work to local unemployed people during the Depression. Original features included hidden passageways for watching postal clerks, and the lobby retains Louisiana marble and a decorated cornice. In 1982 the building was named for Congressman James A. Burke, who kept offices on the second floor. The building remains in excellent condition and in postal use.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is architecturally significant as a product of the office of Treasury Supervising Architect James Knox Taylor, reflecting early 1900s federal design policy. Its relationship to H.H. Richardson's Romanesque Crane Library across the street illustrates national trends in American architecture. The 1933 renovation also provided jobs for Quincy's unemployed during the Depression.
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 86001217, listed May 23, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 47 Washington St., Quincy |
|---|---|
| County | Norfolk County |
| Listed | May 23, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86001217 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | James Knox Taylor, Architect |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent condition; the building houses the Quincy Main Post Office. |
| Acreage | 0.6 |
| Coordinates | 42.25085, -71.00178 (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 86001217.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7891170
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.