U.S. Post Office
Why it's listed
Built between 1928 and 1930 on a corner in downtown Lancaster, this two-story limestone federal building was designed by James A. Wetmore, then Acting Supervising Architect, and constructed by Algernon Blair of Montgomery, Alabama, at a cost of about $375,000 excluding land. Its main front on West Chestnut Street has fifteen bays, Tuscan pilasters, a modified Doric cornice, carved wreaths, and two projecting pavilions with carved doorways. The interior retains carved mahogany counter woodwork and a northeast staircase. The site had earlier served as a Moravian graveyard from about 1746 to 1821, a Continental Army warehouse built in 1777-1778, and the Lancasterian School, which was demolished in 1928. The building was dedicated on January 11, 1930. It is regarded as an excellent example of its style and as a model for later federal post offices.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is an excellent example of Beaux-Arts Classicism modified by Art Deco influence and that its interior and exterior features are largely intact. It also cites the architect's design as influential on later federal buildings, and the site's earlier uses as a Moravian graveyard, a Revolutionary War Continental Army warehouse, and the Lancasterian School.
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 81000545, listed July 23, 1981. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 50 W. Chestnut St., Lancaster |
|---|---|
| County | Lancaster County |
| Listed | July 23, 1981 |
| Reference number | 81000545 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900-1930 |
| Architect / builder | James A. Wetmore (architect); Algernon Blair (builder) |
| Architectural style | Beaux-Arts Classicism modified by Art Deco influence |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Acreage | 1.5 |
| Within district | Lancaster City Historic District |
| Coordinates | 40.04067, -76.30758 (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 81000545.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7890988
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.