Chardon Post Office Building
Why it's listed
Built around 1940-1941 at 121 South Street, this brick building served as Chardon's post office under a Public Works Administration program. Philadelphia firm Taylor-Davis, Inc. designed it, and Putchat Construction Company of Trenton, New Jersey, built it. Its balanced, symmetrical front has a hip-roofed center section, a central doorway with sidelights, a transom and a keystone, and contrasting brick window surrounds. Together these give a simplified, modern reading of Colonial Revival style. Inside, terrazzo and hardwood floors, marble wainscoting, oak woodwork, brass teller bars, skylights and the original stamp vault survive. A 1942 mural, "Maple Syrup Camp," was removed and restored, and now hangs in the Chardon Municipal Building. The rear loading dock was enclosed in 1987. The building was recognized as a local example of Depression-era federal architecture, and its scale and setting near the historic square allow it to blend with the older buildings facing the Chardon Square. It now houses offices.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues that the building is a significant local example of Depression-era federal architecture under Criterion C. It shows a streamlined, modern take on Colonial Revival design typical of small-town PWA post offices. It also recalls the federal presence and public works activity in the Chardon area during the Depression.
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 08000114, listed February 28, 2008. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 121 South St., Chardon |
|---|---|
| County | Geauga County |
| Listed | February 28, 2008 |
| Reference number | 08000114 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1939-1941 |
| Architect / builder | Taylor-Davis, Inc.; Federal Works Agency/Public Buildings Administration (contractor: Putchat Construction Company of Trenton, New Jersey) |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and Early 20th Century Revivals (Colonial Revival, streamlined classicism) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Now used as office space for a private accounting firm; the building stopped serving as a post office, and the interior and exterior are described as largely original or restored. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.58077, -81.20312 (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 08000114.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138339882
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.