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U.S. Post Office (Lima, Ohio)
Encyclopedia
The U.S. Post Office in Lima
, Ohio
, United States
is a historic Neoclassical
building erected in 1930. Located along High Street west of the center of the city, the post office
is one of the newest major buildings in the city's downtown.
to the west.
Lima reached its height during the early years of the twentieth century. As the city became a major center for Standard Oil
and as the hometown Lima Locomotive Works
became a major player in the manufacturing of locomotive
s, the economy boomed, and many large buildings were erected in and around downtown. Although the 1930 post office was built near the end of this boom period, its architecture greatly resembles that of many buildings constructed during the boom.
s, doubly fluted
, and a large triple casement window
with a balustrade
beneath. Elsewhere in the building, the casement windows are three panels tall and two panels wide; many windows feature a prominent transom
. Customers can enter the building through any of three double doors, which are located between pairs of pilasters carven to resemble column
s.
ing.
because of its well-preserved architecture. It was one of seventeen buildings listed on the National Register as part of the "Lima Multiple Resource Area."
Lima, Ohio
Lima is a city in and the county seat of Allen County, Ohio, United States. The municipality is located in northwestern Ohio along Interstate 75 approximately north of Dayton and south-southwest of Toledo....
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
is a historic Neoclassical
Neoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing...
building erected in 1930. Located along High Street west of the center of the city, the post office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
is one of the newest major buildings in the city's downtown.
History
Lima's first post office was built at the intersection of High and Elizabeth Streets. When officials decided to replace this structure with a newer building, the lot chosen was two blocksCity block
A city block, urban block or simply block is a central element of urban planning and urban design. A city block is the smallest area that is surrounded by streets. City blocks are the space for buildings within the street pattern of a city, they form the basic unit of a city's urban fabric...
to the west.
Lima reached its height during the early years of the twentieth century. As the city became a major center for Standard Oil
Standard Oil
Standard Oil was a predominant American integrated oil producing, transporting, refining, and marketing company. Established in 1870 as a corporation in Ohio, it was the largest oil refiner in the world and operated as a major company trust and was one of the world's first and largest multinational...
and as the hometown Lima Locomotive Works
Lima Locomotive Works
Lima Locomotive Works was an American firm that manufactured railroad locomotives from the 1870s through the 1950s. The company took the most distinctive part of its name from its main shops location in Lima, Ohio. The shops were located between the Baltimore & Ohio's Cincinnati-Toledo main line...
became a major player in the manufacturing of locomotive
Locomotive
A locomotive is a railway vehicle that provides the motive power for a train. The word originates from the Latin loco – "from a place", ablative of locus, "place" + Medieval Latin motivus, "causing motion", and is a shortened form of the term locomotive engine, first used in the early 19th...
s, the economy boomed, and many large buildings were erected in and around downtown. Although the 1930 post office was built near the end of this boom period, its architecture greatly resembles that of many buildings constructed during the boom.
Architecture
Completed in 1931, the current post office is a single-story concrete building. Each end of the building features pilasterPilaster
A pilaster is a slightly-projecting column built into or applied to the face of a wall. Most commonly flattened or rectangular in form, pilasters can also take a half-round form or the shape of any type of column, including tortile....
s, doubly fluted
Fluting (architecture)
Fluting in architecture refers to the shallow grooves running vertically along a surface.It typically refers to the grooves running on a column shaft or a pilaster, but need not necessarily be restricted to those two applications...
, and a large triple casement window
Casement window
A casement window is a window that is attached to its frame by one or more hinges. Casement windows are hinged at the side. A casement window (or casement) is a window that is attached to its frame by one or more hinges. Casement windows are hinged at the side. A casement window (or casement) is a...
with a balustrade
Baluster
A baluster is a moulded shaft, square or of lathe-turned form, one of various forms of spindle in woodwork, made of stone or wood and sometimes of metal, standing on a unifying footing, and supporting the coping of a parapet or the handrail of a staircase. Multiplied in this way, they form a...
beneath. Elsewhere in the building, the casement windows are three panels tall and two panels wide; many windows feature a prominent transom
Transom (architectural)
In architecture, a transom is the term given to a transverse beam or bar in a frame, or to the crosspiece separating a door or the like from a window or fanlight above it. Transom is also the customary U.S. word used for a transom light, the window over this crosspiece...
. Customers can enter the building through any of three double doors, which are located between pairs of pilasters carven to resemble column
Column
A column or pillar in architecture and structural engineering is a vertical structural element that transmits, through compression, the weight of the structure above to other structural elements below. For the purpose of wind or earthquake engineering, columns may be designed to resist lateral forces...
s.
Interior
The interior of the post office is built primarily of marble and of hardwoods. Its ceiling is constructed primarily of heavily contrasting marble cofferCoffer
A coffer in architecture, is a sunken panel in the shape of a square, rectangle, or octagon in a ceiling, soffit or vault...
ing.
Recognition
In 1982, the post office was listed on the National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
because of its well-preserved architecture. It was one of seventeen buildings listed on the National Register as part of the "Lima Multiple Resource Area."