US Post Office-Medina
Also known as: Medina Post Office
Why it's listed
Medina's post office at 128 West Center Street is a one-story brick building completed in 1931-32 in the Colonial Revival style. It has a hip roof with slate shingles, a limestone base, red brick walls laid in English bond, brick quoins and a limestone cornice with corbels. The entry is framed by Ionic columns and topped by a broken swan's-neck pediment, and a carved eagle marks the parapet. Congress first authorized a federal building for Medina in 1928, but funds came only after the Depression began. The design dates from the tenure of James A. Wetmore as Acting Supervising Architect of the Treasury, when postal designs were being standardized. The same plan is known to have been used in Salem, Indiana, but nowhere else in New York. The nomination describes the building as a particularly fine example among Colonial Revival post offices, which were the most popular style for small postal facilities in the 1920s and 1930s. Original lockboxes and marble wainscoting survive in the lobby.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is a distinguished example of early twentieth century public architecture in the Colonial Revival style. It was authorized by Congress at the start of the Depression-era public buildings programs. It is considered a particularly fine example of its type for its English bond brickwork and limestone decoration, including the swan's-neck pedimented entry and carved eagle.
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 88002351, listed May 11, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 128 W. Center St., Medina |
|---|---|
| County | Orleans County |
| Listed | May 11, 1989 |
| Reference number | 88002351 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1931-2 |
| Architect / builder | James A. Wetmore, Acting Supervising Architect |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as occupied and in good condition, altered; still serving as the post office. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 43.22054, -78.38840 (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 88002351.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7891000
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.