US Post Office Garage
Also known as: Vehicle Maintenance Facility
Why it's listed
Built in 1940-41 at 135 "A" Street in South Boston, this two-story garage served the U.S. Post Office as a vehicle maintenance and operations facility. Its trapezoidal concrete form has scored walls suggesting panels, streamlined curved corners, and large steel-sash windows with wire glass. The vehicle entrance is marked by sweeping curves and gilded aluminum lettering, the only applied ornament. A two-car ramp and a vehicle elevator with a tall penthouse are left visible as design elements. Gilbert Stanley Underwood, a West Coast modernist who consulted on federal projects, was the architect, and Grande & Volpe, Inc. was the contractor. The building was listed as a rare Boston-area example of the International style, reflecting a federal shift away from classical design toward a modern, functional approach. Alterations include a 1983 coat of yellow paint, some sealed skylights, added doors and fire stairs, and removal of a central column and island near 1960. It remains in postal use.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a rare Boston-area example of the International style, even though it was less than fifty years old when nominated. Its functional planning, scored concrete panels, steel sash windows and exposed ramp and elevator reflect the federal government's move from classical tradition toward modernism. It is also a landmark in an industrial district of older brick buildings.
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 86001378, listed June 26, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 135 A St., South Boston |
|---|---|
| County | Suffolk County |
| Listed | June 26, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86001378 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1940-1941 |
| Architect / builder | Gilbert Stanley Underwood, consulting architect; Grande & Volpe, Inc., contractor |
| Architectural style | International style (streamlined) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in use as a Postal Service vehicle maintenance facility; described as in very good condition, painted bright yellow in 1983, with some alterations. |
| Acreage | 2.5 |
| Coordinates | 42.34347, -71.05328 (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 86001378.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7891074
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.