Sherman US Post Office and Courthouse
Also known as: Sherman U.S. Federal Building
Why it's listed
Built in 1906-1907 on Pecan Street in downtown Sherman, this three-story limestone building was the town's first federal building. It combined a post office with a federal courthouse and was designed by the Treasury Department's Office of the Supervising Architect under James Knox Taylor. Dallas contractor F. L. Stevenson built it on a granite base, with a red clay tile hipped roof, an arched entry framed by a Doric surround topped with carved eagles, and wrought-iron balustrades at the second-floor windows. The post office moved to a new building in 1962, and the former postal space was converted to offices and a second courtroom. The second-floor ceremonial courtroom retains its original bench, jury box, clerk's desk and chandeliers. The building has served federal court needs for Sherman and surrounding counties since completion. It was listed for its role in the local federal presence and as a strong example of Renaissance Revival public architecture.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is significant under Criterion A as the first federal building in Sherman, which has provided a continuous federal presence and housed the Sherman division of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. Under Criterion C it is an outstanding example of a federally designed Renaissance Revival public building. It remains a prominent landmark in the central business district.
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 00001173, listed September 29, 2000. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 101 E. Pecan St., Sherman |
|---|---|
| County | Grayson County |
| Listed | September 29, 2000 |
| Reference number | 00001173 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1905-1950 |
| Architect / builder | Taylor, James Knox, Supervising Architect, Treasury Department; F.L. Stevenson Contract Co., Dallas, Contractor |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals: Renaissance Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | No longer a post office since 1962; still used as a courthouse and government offices, and the ceremonial courtroom continues in its original function. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 33.63910, -96.60952 (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 00001173.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7495262
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.