US Post Office-Port Jervis
Also known as: Port Jervis Post Office
Why it's listed
Located at the corner of Sussex and Hammond Streets in Port Jervis's main commercial district, this post office is a one-and-one-half-story red brick building with a hip roof, a granite-clad raised basement and terra-cotta quoins, cornice and keystones. Its principal facade has three large arched openings, and the central entrance is framed by fluted Composite columns. Inside, the lobby keeps its mosaic tile floor, marble wainscot and a plaster cornice with Doric ornament. Legislative authorization came in 1910, the site was bought in 1911, and the building, which cost $53,080, was completed in 1916. Design began under Supervising Architect Oscar Wenderoth and was finished under James A. Wetmore. It is regarded as a representative Colonial Revival federal building, notable for Georgian and Federal details and extensive terra-cotta ornament. The exterior retains high integrity despite later changes, including a 1967 mailing platform and replaced doors.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a representative example of early twentieth century Colonial Revival federal architecture, built in the era of individually designed post offices. It is distinguished by extensive terra-cotta decoration on all facades and Georgian- and Federal-inspired detailing. It retains a high degree of exterior integrity and a lesser degree of interior integrity.
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 88002408, listed May 11, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 20 Sussex St., Port Jervis |
|---|---|
| County | Orange County |
| Listed | May 11, 1989 |
| Reference number | 88002408 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1914-6 |
| Architect / builder | Oscar Wenderoth, Supervising Architect (completed under successor James A. Wetmore) |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as good and occupied, in government use as a post office; a mailing platform was added in 1967 and the entrance doors and some window sash have been replaced. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.37500, -74.69217 (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 88002408.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7891033
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.