US Post Office-Attica
Also known as: Attica Post Office
Why it's listed
Built in 1936-37 at 76 Main Street in Attica, this one-story brick post office reflects the federal building programs of the Great Depression. Designed under Treasury Supervising Architect Louis A. Simon and built by the Weinstein Construction Company of Philadelphia, it follows a standard pattern used for thirteen nearly identical post offices across New York State. Its Colonial Revival design includes a stone watertable, twelve-over-twelve windows, a denticulated wooden cornice, and a central entrance framed by fluted Doric columns and a blind fanlight with a cast aluminum eagle. The original cupola has been removed. Inside, the lobby is modest, with tile, plaster and wood detailing. It also holds a 1938 mural, Fall in the Genesee Country, painted by Thomas Donnelly under the Treasury's Section of Fine Arts, depicting a contemporary farm landscape. The building was listed for its architectural value as a well-preserved example of its type and for the artistic quality of its mural.
Significance in brief: It is an intact example of federal Depression-era public works architecture in the Colonial Revival style. Its design was the most popular in New York State, used for thirteen nearly identical post offices. It also holds a well-preserved 1938 Treasury Section of Fine Arts mural by Thomas Donnelly showing a local farm scene.
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 88002453, listed November 17, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 76 Main St., Attica |
|---|---|
| County | Wyoming County |
| Listed | November 17, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88002453 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1936-7; 1938 |
| Architect / builder | Louis A. Simon, Supervising Architect of the Treasury (designer); Weinstein Construction Company of Philadelphia (builder); mural by Thomas Donnelly |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| Areas of significance | Art, Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as occupied, in excellent condition, and government-owned; the form says it retains a high degree of integrity inside and out, though the original cupola has been removed. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.86379, -78.28052 (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 88002453.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7890907
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.