US Post Office-Charleroi
Also known as: John K. Tener Library
Why it's listed
Built between 1909 and 1912 as a federal post office, this two-story granite building stands on sloping ground near the centre of Charleroi's business district, set back fifteen feet from Fallowfield Avenue. Its seven-bay front has Tuscan pilasters and columns framing a recessed entrance portico, and the copper-clad doors are topped by a grille of superimposed squares and diagonal crosses. A parapet rises in a ziggurat over the south elevation and the carved entablature reads "United States Post Office." Inside, the former workroom and lobby retain oak woodwork, plaster walls, original gaslight fixtures converted to electric, and an attic walkway with peepholes used by postal inspectors. Its scale stood out in a town of small lots and modest brick buildings. The building is valued for its high-style Classical Revival design, its well-preserved interior and exterior, and its link to federal government presence in the Monongahela Valley. Its construction is linked to John K. Tener, a local banker who later served in Congress and as governor.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is a locally outstanding example of early twentieth century public building architecture in the Classical Revival style, unusually monumental for a small town. It is also presented as representing the role of federal government administration in small communities and as an important local center of government services. Its integrity is described as excellent.
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 89002287, listed January 4, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 638 Fallowfield Ave., Charleroi |
|---|---|
| County | Washington County |
| Listed | January 4, 1990 |
| Reference number | 89002287 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1909-1912 |
| Architect / builder | James Knox Taylor, Supervising Architect, Treasury Department; George Stiles, Construction Company; E.C. Heald, Structural Engineer |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restored 1978-1979 and used as a library; the document states the building remains largely unchanged in appearance since construction. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Within district | Charleroi Historic District |
| Coordinates | 40.14003, -79.90021 (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 89002287.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7890925
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.