US Post Office-Norwich
Also known as: Norwich Post Office
Why it's listed
Set well back from East Main Street on a landscaped lot, this one-story post office in Norwich, New York, was designed in 1931 by Syracuse architect George Ketcham, who served as a consulting architect to the Treasury Department's Supervising Architect. Built in 1932-33 as part of Depression-era public building programs, it is faced with red and brown Flemish-bond brick and decorated with cast stone. The front facade has round-arched windows between Corinthian pilasters and a central entrance under a swan's-neck pediment with an urn. The lobby has marble wainscoting, terrazzo floors, heavy plaster moldings and wide segmental arches framing the screenline. The nomination calls it a fine Colonial Revival public building, noting that its carved exterior ornament is the best among three closely related central New York post offices, the others being in Herkimer and Oneida. Although the roofline parapet has been removed, the building retains a high degree of integrity and remains a symbol of federal presence downtown.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is a fine example of Colonial Revival public architecture in New York State, with elaborate cast-stone ornament and a well-composed entrance facade. It was built during the Depression-era public buildings programs and is closely related in design to the post offices at Herkimer and Oneida. It also remains a symbol of the federal presence in Norwich's civic core.
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 88002380, listed May 11, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 20--22 E. Main St., Norwich |
|---|---|
| County | Chenango County |
| Listed | May 11, 1989 |
| Reference number | 88002380 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1932-33 |
| Architect / builder | George Ketcham |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as occupied and in use as a post office; the roofline parapet with balustrade panels has been removed, and the lobby has some modified teller openings and later lighting. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Chenango County Courthouse District |
| Coordinates | 42.53104, -75.52198 (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 88002380.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7891014
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.