US Post Office -Waterloo
Also known as: Waterloo Post Office
Why it's listed
Standing at the main crossroads of Waterloo, New York, this one-story brick post office at East Main and Virginia Streets was built in 1924-5 and dedicated on August 29, 1925. It was the village's first federal building, replacing rented quarters in the Arcade and the Dempsey Block. The site had earlier held the Academy of Music, which burned in 1904. The design is a simple, well-proportioned Colonial Revival composition with a symmetrical front, round-arched windows, a fanlight over the entrance, splayed brick lintels and recessed panels. Inside, the lobby retains wood, marble, terrazzo and plaster details. Construction was directed by Acting Supervising Architect James A. Wetmore, though the design is probably the work of Louis A. Simon. The building closely resembles other New York post offices of the 1920s and 1930s, showing the move toward standardized, economical federal design after 1915. It is valued as an intact example of that approach.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is an intact, representative example of the small number of federal buildings erected in New York State between World War I and the Great Depression. Its simplified Colonial Revival design reflects the standardized post office designs used after 1915. It was built under Acting Supervising Architect James A. Wetmore and was probably designed by Louis A. Simon.
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 88002442, listed May 11, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 2 E. Main St., Waterloo |
|---|---|
| County | Seneca County |
| Listed | May 11, 1989 |
| Reference number | 88002442 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1924-5 |
| Architect / builder | James A. Wetmore, Acting Supervising Architect; probably designed by Louis A. Simon; Edward W. Foley Contracting Corporation (contractor) |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as well maintained and retaining a high degree of exterior integrity, with a somewhat altered public lobby. Form lists status as occupied and in government use. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Waterloo Downtown Historic District |
| Coordinates | 42.90431, -76.86241 (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 88002442.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7891059
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.