US Post Office-Painted Post
Also known as: Painted Post Post Office
Why it's listed
Built in 1937-38 at 135 North Hamilton Street in Painted Post, this modest one-story post office is clad in red brick laid in common bond. Its three-bay facade has the entrance in the northernmost bay, recessed brick window panels, twelve-over-twelve wood sash, limestone lintels and sills, and a deep boxed wood cornice under a gabled roof. A larger, slightly recessed wing at the rear holds the workroom. It was designed by the Treasury Department under Supervising Architect Louis A. Simon as part of the Depression-era public works program. The same design was used for the Whitehall post office, and both were among the smallest federal post offices built in New York State before 1942. Inside, the lobby has simple ceramic tile, wood and plaster detail. A 1939 mural by Amy Jones, titled "Recording the Victory," depicts a Revolutionary War scene near Painted Post. The building keeps a high degree of exterior and interior integrity, although the original cupola has been removed.
Significance in brief: It is an intact example of the small federal post offices built as Great Depression public works projects, designed in a very simple Colonial Revival style. Its three-bay facade with a side entrance is shared by only a few of the smallest post offices built in New York State before 1942. It also holds a 1939 mural by Amy Jones, commissioned by 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 88002395, listed May 11, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 135 N. Hamilton St., Painted Post |
|---|---|
| County | Steuben County |
| Listed | May 11, 1989 |
| Reference number | 88002395 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1937-8; 1939 |
| Architect / builder | Treasury Department; Louis A. Simon, Supervising Architect |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| Areas of significance | Art, Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The building retains a high degree of integrity inside and out. It is still used as a post office and is described as occupied by the postal service. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.15855, -77.09323 (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 88002395.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7891023
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.