U.S. Post Office

Occupying the northeast corner of Broad Street and East Avenue in Elyria, this Neoclassical post office dates to 1915. James A. Wetmore served as supervising architect. The rectangular building has sandstone walls and a stone foundation, a flat composition roof, and a basement. Its most striking feature is a long colonnade of large sandstone columns standing before a recessed portico that forms the main entry. A tall parapet rises above the entablature and hides the roof, while the tall ceilings inside add to its impact. Because it sits on a corner, it presents two facades to the public; the rear holds a loading platform and the east side faces a city parking lot. The building is considered a prominent Elyria landmark because of its size and scale. It is identical to the post office in Alliance, Ohio, and it acts as a stabilizing influence on the East Broad Street area, which had become considerably blighted. It remains in postal use.