US Post Office-Canandaigua
Also known as: Canandaigua Post Office; See Also:Canandaigua Historic Distri
Why it's listed
Occupying a prominent corner on Canandaigua's main street across from the town square, this granite post office and courthouse was built in 1910-12 and enlarged in 1936-38. Its front is dominated by a Doric portico of four fluted columns, and the entrance is modeled on windows of the Erechtheum in Athens. Inside, the public lobby has white marble Doric pilasters and a terrazzo floor. Mary Clark Thompson, who with her husband Frederick had made Canandaigua their summer home, donated the land and paid for plans by the Boston firm Allen & Collens. It was one of only three post offices in New York State designed by a private architectural firm during the Tarnsey Act period. The original two-story building gained a third-floor federal courtroom and a rear wing under the Office of the Supervising Architect of the Treasury. The addition was designed to be indistinguishable from the original work, and the building keeps a high degree of integrity from both construction periods.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is an outstanding example of public architecture in New York State and one of only three post offices in the state designed by a private firm during the Tarnsey Act period. It is also tied to the Thompson family, who donated the land and paid for the plans by Allen & Collens. The 1936-38 enlargement matches the original construction and adds to its significance.
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 88002465, listed November 17, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 28 N. Main St., Canandaigua |
|---|---|
| County | Ontario County |
| Listed | November 17, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88002465 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1910-12; 1936-38 |
| Architect / builder | Allen & Collens |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied; the form describes it as retaining a high degree of integrity on both exterior and interior. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | North Main Street Historic District |
| Coordinates | 42.88851, -77.28223 (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 88002465.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7890919
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.