US Post Office-Ilion
Also known as: Ilion Post Office
Why it's listed
Ilion's post office at 48 First Street is a one-story, seven-bay brick building completed in 1936 during the Great Depression public works program. Authorized by Congress in 1931, it was designed under Louis A. Simon, Supervising Architect of the Treasury, and built by Nazario P. Scicchitani and Company for up to $125,000. It replaced a row of stores. The design is a restrained Colonial Revival, with a central arched entrance and fanlight, twelve-over-twelve windows, splayed brick lintels with keystones and a flat roof. Its seven-bay facade sets it apart from the more common five-bay post offices of the period, and the Ballston Spa post office nearly duplicates its design. Inside, the lobby keeps terrazzo floors, marble baseboards and walnut paneling. A 1937 plaster relief of Eliphalet Remington, the gun maker whose business shaped Ilion, was made by Edmond Amateis for the Treasury's Section of Fine Arts. The building was recognized for its architecture and this artwork.
Significance in brief: The building is an intact example of 1930s federal public works architecture, designed in a very simplified Colonial Revival style. Its seven-bay main facade is unusual among New York post offices, which more typically have five bays. It also holds a 1937 plaster relief of Eliphalet Remington by Edmond Amateis, commissioned through 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 88002513, listed May 11, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 48 First St., Ilion |
|---|---|
| County | Herkimer County |
| Listed | May 11, 1989 |
| Reference number | 88002513 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- (specific dates 1935-6; 1937) |
| Architect / builder | Louis A. Simon, Supervising Architect; construction contract awarded to Nazario P. Scicchitani and Company |
| Architectural style | Extremely simplified Colonial Revival |
| Areas of significance | Art, Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as well maintained, in good condition and retaining a high degree of integrity inside and out, with some alterations such as replacement entrance doors and a handicapped access ramp. The status is marked occupied. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 43.01474, -75.03715 (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 88002513.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7890974
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.