U.S. Post Office
Also known as: Hillsboro City Library
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Why it's listed
Built in 1913 at 118 South Waco Street, this single-story brick building began as Hillsboro's post office and now serves as the city library. Designed by architect James K. Taylor in the Renaissance Revival style, it combines tan brick with terra cotta and carved-stone trim, a hipped tile roof, and five arched entrances on the main facade supported by paired columns. Inside, marble lobby floors and wainscoting add to the ornate character. The lot was earlier the site of the city's first fire department, founded in 1883. The government bought the property in 1910 and began work in 1912. After the post office moved to a new building in 1967, the city took possession in 1968 and had the exterior restored, with interior renovation following. The library was dedicated in 1971. The building is regarded as one of the most sophisticated structures in Hillsboro and has served government and educational needs.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it one of the most architecturally sophisticated buildings in Hillsboro, designed by architect James K. Taylor. It has served major governmental and educational needs as both post office and library. The site was also home to the city's first fire department.
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 84001894, listed March 30, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 118 S. Waco St., Hillsboro |
|---|---|
| County | Hill County |
| Listed | March 30, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84001894 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architect / builder | James K. Taylor (architect) |
| Architectural style | Renaissance Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Physical condition is listed as excellent. The building was restored and renovated in 1969 and dedicated as a library in 1971, and it is currently used as the city library. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 32.00993, -97.13029 (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 84001894.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110002251
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.