US Post Office-Monroe
Also known as: Monroe N.C. Post Office
Why it's listed
Built in 1913 at 407 North Main Street, the Monroe post office is a two-story, seven-by-four bay building of load-bearing masonry laid in English bond red brick, set on a raised cut ashlar basement. Its main facade features a classical portico with Corinthian columns, limestone pilasters, molded stone panels with urn and festoon motifs, and a blind parapet. Additions in 1966 to the south and rear match the original in scale and materials, though their tall bays differ from the original windows. The lobby was remodeled then, but the original wrought iron and marble stair survives. The building was designed by Oscar Wendroth, Supervising Architect for the Treasury Department, who was responsible for many federal post offices. It was listed for its link to Monroe's growth as a county seat and Seaboard railroad center, for its association with Wendroth, and as a mature, restrained example of federal Neo Classical design. It remains in use as a post office.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building reflects the prosperity of Monroe as a county seat and Seaboard railroad center in the early twentieth century. It is also a mature, restrained and relatively intact example of federal Neo Classical architecture. It is tied to Oscar Wendroth, who specialized in post offices.
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 85000482, listed March 6, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 407 N. Main St., Monroe |
|---|---|
| County | Union County |
| Listed | March 6, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85000482 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1913 |
| Architect / builder | Oscar Wendroth, Supervising Architect |
| Architectural style | Neo Classical (federal architecture) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in use as a post office; condition listed as good, with two sympathetic additions and a remodeled lobby dating from 1966. |
| Acreage | 0.8 |
| Within district | Monroe Residential Historic District |
| Coordinates | 34.98376, -80.55069 (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 85000482.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q20714986
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.