US Post Office-Penn Yan
Also known as: Penn Yan Post Office
Why it's listed
Penn Yan's post office at 159 Main Street is a small, symmetrical red brick building laid in Flemish bond, with a granite basement, limestone and wood trim, and a copper-clad hip roof behind a balustrade. Built in 1912-13 from designs by Treasury Supervising Architect James Knox Taylor, it replaced two residences, one of which was moved two blocks to Elm Street. Authorization came in 1908 under the Public Buildings Omnibus Act. The entrance, framed by Doric columns and a pediment, sits on the narrow side of the building, unlike Taylor's other designs, probably because the lot was narrow. Round-arched windows on the side elevations are especially fine. Inside, the L-shaped lobby keeps its terrazzo floor, plaster cornice, woodwork and bracketed wall-mounted customer counters. The building is valued as a restrained, well-preserved Colonial Revival work and as a modest symbol of the federal presence in a village long shaped by commerce, agriculture and water-powered industry. It also contributes to the Penn Yan Historic District.
Significance in brief: The building is presented as an outstanding example of Colonial Revival public architecture in New York State and an important work of Supervising Architect James Knox Taylor. It is one of thirteen Taylor-designed post offices in the thematic group. Its blend of Georgian and Federal details, high-quality materials and very high integrity are also cited.
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 88002403, listed May 11, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 159 Main St., Penn Yan |
|---|---|
| County | Yates County |
| Listed | May 11, 1989 |
| Reference number | 88002403 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1912-1913 |
| Architect / builder | Treasury Department, Supervising Architect: James Knox Taylor; Daniel McCarthy of Philadelphia, general contractor |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival, with Georgian and Federal inspired details |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Marked occupied and in government use; the exterior and interior are described as retaining a high degree of integrity, with some 1930s and 1975 alterations. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Penn Yan Historic District |
| Coordinates | 42.66240, -77.05418 (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 88002403.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7891028
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.