US Post Office-Richfield Springs
Also known as: Richfield Springs Post OFfice
Why it's listed
Richfield Springs Post Office is a one-story, five-bay brick building at 12 East Main Street, facing the village park. It has a granite foundation, limestone trim, a slate hip roof and an octagonal cupola. Three recessed central bays are divided by plain limestone pilasters beneath a broad limestone frieze. Inside, the L-shaped lobby keeps its terrazzo floors, marble wainscotting and original customer tables. The building was constructed from July 1940 to February 1942 after the first contractor was dismissed and Carl Westberg & Co. of Chicago took over for $41,458. It was one of seven nearly identical post offices designed under Supervising Architect Louis A. Simon and built in New York between 1935 and 1942, reflecting standardized federal design during the Depression. A 1942 mural by John W. Taylor, painted for the Treasury Department's Section of Fine Arts, shows a dairy cooperative and a nearby octagonal barn. The building remains largely intact.
Significance in brief: It is an intact example of federal public works architecture from the Great Depression, with simplified Colonial Revival design that emphasizes Greek Revival features. It is one of seven nearly identical post offices designed by Louis A. Simon in New York between 1935 and 1942. It also contains a well-preserved 1942 mural painted under 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 88002422, listed May 11, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 12 E. Main St., Richfield Springs |
|---|---|
| County | Otsego County |
| Listed | May 11, 1989 |
| Reference number | 88002422 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Louis A. Simon, Supervising Architect |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival (simplified, with Greek Revival elements) |
| 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; listed as occupied and in federal ownership. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | East Main Street Historic District |
| Coordinates | 42.85311, -74.98479 (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 88002422.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7891038
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.