United States Post Office (Bowling Green, Ohio)

U.S. Post Office

Front of the post office
Location 305 N. Main St., Bowling Green, Ohio
Coordinates 41°22′38″N 83°39′6″W / 41.37722°N 83.65167°W / 41.37722; -83.65167Coordinates: 41°22′38″N 83°39′6″W / 41.37722°N 83.65167°W / 41.37722; -83.65167
Area Less than 1 acre (0.40 ha)
Built 1913 (1913)
Architect O. Wenderoth; James Devault & Son
Architectural style Late 19th And 20th Century Revivals, Classical Revival, Second Renaissance Revival
NRHP Reference # 79001980[1]
Added to NRHP March 28, 1979

The former Bowling Green Post Office is a historic governmental facility in downtown Bowling Green, Ohio, United States. Constructed in the early twentieth century, this post office features an unusual combination of distinctive architectural styles, and it has been named a historic site.

Built in 1913 of brick with an asphalt roof, the post office features substantial amounts of sandstone.[2] Its design, produced under the direction of a Mr. Wenderoth, combines prominent elements of two common architectural styles of the early twentieth century. The arched windows display the influence of the Neo-Renaissance style, as do the side quoins and certain details of the portico. Meanwhile, the overall appearance of the facade is clearly Neoclassical, due to details in the portico, the architect's choice of smooth stone for the exterior walls, and the generally symmetrical appearance.[3] One large window sits on either side of the main entrance, which is covered by a four-column portico; the pediment at the top of the portico features a central oculus.[2] The main entrance features a fanlight, an iron frame, and elements in the Corinthian order.[4]

Located in downtown Bowling Green, the post office lies at the northern end of the city's main commercial district. As Wood County's leading post office and only substantial federal building, the post office was for many years among the most prominent buildings in the city.[3] The building is no longer used for postal purposes, as the Postal Service moved to another facility in the late 1970s. Since that time, it has served as the Wood County Senior Citizens Center,[4] but even in this new use, it retains its place as a landmark for residents countywide: the Wood County Committee on Aging, which operates numerous centers countywide, uses the building as its headquarters.[5]

In 1979, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, qualifying because of its distinctive historic architecture. It is one of five National Register-listed sites in the city,[1] along with the Main Street Historic District a short distance to the south,[6] the county courthouse downtown, Floral Hall in a city park, and the Boom Town Historic District on the west side.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 National Park Service (2010-07-09). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  2. 1 2 U.S. Post Office, Ohio Historical Society, 2007. Accessed 2013-09-10.
  3. 1 2 Owen, Lorrie K., ed. Dictionary of Ohio Historic Places. Vol. 2. St. Clair Shores: Somerset, 1999, 1423.
  4. 1 2 Welcome to Bowling Green Ohio's Historic District!", Downtown Bowling Green, c. 2003. Accessed 2013-09-10.
  5. ↑ Wood County Senior Center (Main Office), Wood County Committee on Aging, 2012-09-12. Accessed 2013-09-10.
  6. ↑ National Register District Address Finder, Ohio Historical Society, 2013. Accessed 2013-09-10.
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