US Post Office-Akron
Also known as: Akron Post Office
Why it's listed
Akron's post office at 118 Main Street is a modest red brick building put up between 1939 and 1941, when federal construction programs were meant to ease Depression-era unemployment. Designed in the Office of the Supervising Architect under Louis A. Simon, it is one of five nearly identical post offices in New York State, the others being in Scotia, Oxford, Middleburgh and Horseheads. Its Colonial Revival character shows in the hipped slate roof, recessed segmentally arched bays, radiating brick voussoirs, a cast-metal eagle over the entrance and multi-paned windows. Inside, the lobby keeps its terrazzo floors, marble wainscot, oak woodwork and original screenline. A mural titled Horse-Drawn Railroad, painted by Elizabeth Logan in 1941 for the Treasury Department's Section of Fine Arts, depicts local history. The building replaced an older house and garage and ended a long period in which Akron's mail was handled from leased quarters. It remains a well-preserved example of standardized federal design.
Significance in brief: It is an intact example of Colonial Revival federal architecture built during the Great Depression public works programs. It is one of five virtually identical post offices designed by Louis A. Simon in New York State. It also holds a well-preserved 1941 mural by Elizabeth Logan, commissioned by the Treasury Department's Section of Fine Arts.
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 88002449, listed November 17, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 118 Main St., Akron |
|---|---|
| County | Erie County |
| Listed | November 17, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88002449 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1939-41 |
| Architect / builder | Louis A. Simon, Supervising Architect; built by contractors Anundson & Peterson of Union City, Pennsylvania |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| Areas of significance | Art, Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Stated as well maintained, retaining most of its original integrity inside and out; the form lists it as occupied and in government use. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 43.02096, -78.47369 (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 88002449.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7890902
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.