US Post Office
Also known as: Federal Building
.JPG){kind=link}
Why it's listed
Two-story stucco-over-brick federal building on Evans Street in downtown Greenville, built 1913-1914 from plans by Oscar Wenderoth of the U.S. Treasury Department, with Norfolk contractor W. J. Brent Construction Company building it. Limestone corners, a terra cotta tile hip roof, and a three-bay loggia with arches on Tuscan columns mark the front elevation. Its six-over-six and paired casement windows reflect a highly Italianate fenestration. The building served as Greenville's main post office until 1969, when a new facility opened, and it was then remodelled for federal agencies. It is significant for its uncommon Florentine Renaissance Revival design in eastern North Carolina and for documenting Greenville's growth after the Scotland Neck and Greenville railroad branch reached the city in 1889 and tobacco became a major crop. A 1936-37 rear addition is compatible in style with the original section.
Significance in brief: The nomination describes it as an impressive, well preserved example of Florentine Renaissance Revival architecture, a style regarded as rare in eastern North Carolina. It is presented as a reflection of Greenville's prosperity during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, which followed railroad construction and the development of a tobacco market. The building is also described as the first structure built specifically to house Greenville's postal facilities.
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 86000784, listed February 6, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 215 S. Evans St., Greenville |
|---|---|
| County | Pitt County |
| Listed | February 6, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86000784 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900-1913 |
| Architect / builder | Oscar Wenderoth (architect, supervising architect of the U.S. Treasury Department); W. J. Brent Construction Company of Norfolk, Virginia (general contractor) |
| Architectural style | Florentine Renaissance Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Economics, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Remodelled for federal offices after the post office moved in 1969; exterior remains as built in 1913-14 and the interior has been partitioned. Federal agencies occupy the building. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Greenville Commercial Historic District |
| Coordinates | 35.61327, -77.37227 (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 86000784.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q19881585
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.