Platte Clove Post Office, Old
Why it's listed
Built around 1885 on the south side of Platte Clove Road in Elka Park, this modest T-shaped wood-frame building served as both a family home and the post office for Platte Clove. Its balloon frame is sheathed in clapboard and several shingle patterns, and a curved, shingled first-story bay marks the main entrance. Inside, a small vestibule with stained triple-beaded boards fronts a rounded enclosure that hides a spiral stair. The post office room on the west side has its own outside door, keeping public business apart from the family parlor. Charles Cole, a Civil War veteran, served as postmaster from 1888 to 1911 and lived here with his wife Loisa and daughter Eva. The building went up when nearby Devil's Kitchen and the Platte Clove drew many summer visitors. It is considered locally significant for its high degree of integrity and its clear mixed-use plan.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is locally significant as an outstanding, highly intact example of mixed-use Late Victorian vernacular architecture. It keeps period interior finishes such as matchstick beaded-board walls and an unusual enclosed spiral stair. Its first-floor plan separates public post office space from private family space. It also recalls the tourist era of Platte Clove and Devil's Kitchen.
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 05000637, listed June 30, 2005. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 2340 Platte Clove Rd., Elka Park |
|---|---|
| County | Greene County |
| Listed | June 30, 2005 |
| Reference number | 05000637 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c. 1885 |
| Architectural style | Vernacular |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Historic and current function listed as a single dwelling; the interior is described as extremely intact and retains post office shelving. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.13405, -74.08792 (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 05000637.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7084745
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.