US Post Office-Northport
Also known as: Northport Post Office
Why it's listed
Northport's post office at 244 Main Street is a one-story, five-bay building of red brick on a steel frame, completed in 1936. Congress authorized it in 1931 as part of a public works program responding to Depression-era unemployment, and T. B. Campbell, Inc. won the construction contract. The design came from the Office of the Supervising Architect of the Treasury under Louis A. Simon. It is one of four nearly identical post offices in New York State, the others being in Saugerties, Silver Creek and Hamburg. Colonial Revival details include twelve-over-twelve windows, a slate hip roof, brick quoins, and a central entrance with fluted wood pilasters and a broken arch pediment. Inside, the L-shaped lobby keeps its tile floors, wainscoting, plaster cornice and woodwork. A rear addition from about 1966 doubled the building's size but is considered non-contributing. The building was listed for its architectural value as a typical, well-preserved federal design of the 1930s.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is an intact, representative example of federal Colonial Revival architecture built under Depression-era public works programs. It is one of four virtually identical post offices designed by Louis A. Simon in New York State between 1934 and 1936. Its standardized, restrained design reflects the most prolific era of post office construction in the nation's history.
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 88002356, listed May 11, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 244 Main St., Northport |
|---|---|
| County | Suffolk County |
| Listed | May 11, 1989 |
| Reference number | 88002356 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1936 |
| Architect / builder | Louis A. Simon, Supervising Architect; T. B. Campbell, Inc. (construction 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 in good condition, retaining most of its original exterior integrity; a rear extension and mailing platform added about 1966 are non-contributing. The form lists the property as occupied. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.90056, -73.34734 (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 88002356.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14707571
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.