US Post Office-Millbury Main
Also known as: Millbury Main Post Office
Why it's listed
Built in 1940 one block from the main intersection of Elm and Main Streets, the Millbury Post Office is a square, brick Moderne building with light Art Deco detailing. Its central entrance portico, formed by deep limestone and brick piers, creates strong shadow lines, and diamond-paned windows, a copper cupola and a gold eagle above the doors complete the design. Inside, a terrazzo floor, marble wainscoting and a 1941 Joe Lasker mural of King Philip's War survive. Louis A. Simon served as Supervising Architect, and Cutler Construction Company of Boston hired local carpenters and laborers during the Depression, when a quarter of Millbury's workforce was unemployed. Postmaster James Ivory pushed for the new building from 1933 until a site was chosen in 1939. The post office was listed for its links to New Deal building and art programs and for its design, which fits its neighborhood while remaining unaltered.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is significant for its association with the Federal Works Administration and the Section of Fine Arts, which provided jobs for construction trades and artists during the Depression. It also exemplifies the Federal architects' ability to produce distinctive, progressive detailing on standardized plans. It contains a 1941 mural by Joe Lasker and meets Criteria A and C despite being under fifty years old.
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 87001764, listed October 15, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 119 Elm St., Millbury |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | October 15, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87001764 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1940 |
| Architect / builder | Louis A. Simon, Supv. Arch't.; Cutler Constr. Co. Contractor |
| Architectural style | Moderne with light Art Deco detailing |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied government use; condition listed as excellent and unaltered from its original state. |
| Acreage | 0.6 |
| Coordinates | 42.19109, -71.74926 (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 87001764.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7891162
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.