US Post Office-Pearl River
Also known as: Pearl River Post Office
Why it's listed
Built in 1935-36 at Franklin and Main Streets in Pearl River, Rockland County, this one-story red brick post office reflects the federal building programs of the Great Depression. Congress authorized it in 1931 as part of a statewide group of new post offices, and the contractor Dornbush & Distefano, Inc. built it under a $70,000 appropriation limit. The design came from the Office of the Supervising Architect of the Treasury under Louis A. Simon. It is a modest, simplified version of the Colonial Revival style, with a three-bay central pavilion, recessed one-bay wings, a cast-stone door surround, multi-paned windows, a flat roof and no cornice. These last features show Moderne and Art Deco influence. Inside, the lobby keeps its ceramic tile wainscot, terrazzo floor and plaster cornice, though it has been altered over time. The building is considered a well-preserved example of the many post offices of this period in New York State, and the exterior retains a high degree of integrity.
Significance in brief: It is argued to be an intact representative example of federal architecture built under Depression-era public works programs. Its design is an extremely simplified Colonial Revival with Moderne and Art Deco influences, typical of post offices built in New York State after 1935. It was designed under Louis A. Simon, Supervising Architect from 1933 to 1939.
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 88002399, listed November 17, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Franklin and Main Sts., Pearl River |
|---|---|
| County | Rockland County |
| Listed | November 17, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88002399 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1935-36 |
| Architect / builder | Louis A. Simon, Supervising Architect; built by contractor Dornbush & Distefano, Inc. |
| Architectural style | Extremely simplified Colonial Revival with Moderne and Art Deco influences |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as well maintained and in good condition, retaining a high degree of exterior integrity; the form lists it as occupied and in government use as a post office. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.05806, -74.02185 (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 88002399.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7891026
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.