US Post Office-Fort Plain
Also known as: Fort Plain Post Office
Why it's listed
Located at 41 River Street in the Mohawk Valley village of Fort Plain, this two-story brick post office with a large one-story rear wing was designed in 1930 and built in 1931-2 by Rosen and Fischel of Chicago. It was authorized under the Public Building Omnibus Act of 1913, though design work began only after several renewals of funding. The design came from the Treasury Department's office under Acting Supervising Architect James A. Wetmore. Its Colonial Revival character shows in a pedimented central pavilion with Corinthian pilasters, limestone niches beside the entrance, carved limestone panels and multi-paned windows. Inside, the lobby has marble wainscoting, fluted marble pilasters, a terrazzo floor and a round skylight. The building was listed as an intact example of standardized federal post office design from the early twentieth century, and it is nearly identical to the post office in Dunkirk but more richly decorated.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is an intact, representative example of early twentieth-century federal architecture in New York State and a distinctive small-scale public building in the Colonial Revival style. It is noted for its limestone ornament, including entrance niches and carved panels, and for its largely intact marble interior. It also reflects the standardized post office designs of the Acting Supervising Architect's tenure under James A. Wetmore.
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 88002510, listed May 11, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 41 River St., Fort Plain |
|---|---|
| County | Montgomery County |
| Listed | May 11, 1989 |
| Reference number | 88002510 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1931 |
| Architect / builder | James A. Wetmore, Acting Supervising Architect; constructed by Rosen and Fischel of Chicago |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as occupied and retaining integrity on the exterior and interior; the interior is virtually intact with its original furnishings, though the entrance doors and transom have been replaced. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.93173, -74.62263 (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 88002510.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7890951
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.