The Old U.S. Post Office in

Philadelphia, Mississippi Philadelphia is a city in and the county seat of Neshoba County, Mississippi, Neshoba County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 7,118 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. History Philadelphia is municipal corporation, i ...

was constructed between 1935 and 1936 as part of the U.S. federal government's

New Deal The New Deal was a series of wide-reaching economic, social, and political reforms enacted by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the United States between 1933 and 1938, in response to the Great Depression in the United States, Great Depressi ...

programs, specifically under the

Works Progress Administration The Works Progress Administration (WPA; from 1935 to 1939, then known as the Work Projects Administration from 1939 to 1943) was an American New Deal agency that employed millions of jobseekers (mostly men who were not formally educated) to car ...

(WPA). This building is a prominent example of

Classical Revival architecture Neoclassical architecture, sometimes referred to as Classical Revival architecture, is an architectural style produced by the Neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century in Italy, France and Germany. It became one of the most promin ...

with Mediterranean influences and is one of 32 federal post offices built in

Mississippi Mississippi ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Deep South regions of the United States. It borders Tennessee to the north, Alabama to the east, the Gulf of Mexico to the south, Louisiana to the s ...

during the

Great Depression The Great Depression was a severe global economic downturn from 1929 to 1939. The period was characterized by high rates of unemployment and poverty, drastic reductions in industrial production and international trade, and widespread bank and ...

History

The Old U.S. Post Office was built during a time of significant economic hardship in the United States, as part of the

initiatives led by President

Franklin D. Roosevelt Franklin Delano Roosevelt (January 30, 1882April 12, 1945), also known as FDR, was the 32nd president of the United States, serving from 1933 until his death in 1945. He is the longest-serving U.S. president, and the only one to have served ...

. The construction of the post office was funded by the

(WPA), a key agency responsible for providing jobs and supporting public infrastructure projects during the Great Depression. The building was completed in 1936 and has since played an important role in the community.

Architecture

Office of the Supervising Architect The Office of the Supervising Architect was an agency of the United States Treasury Department that designed federal government buildings from 1852 to 1939. About The office handled some of the most important architectural commissions of ...

, the Old U.S. Post Office is an example of

with Mediterranean influences. The building is rectangular in shape, with a flat roof hidden by a parapet. The exterior is primarily stucco with exposed brick detailing. Notable features include the use of nonstructural brick arches, a fanlight above the entrance, and a variety of window designs, including twelve-over-twelve, double-hung sash windows. The interior originally included an L-shaped public lobby and a mezzanine level used for postal operations. The building's architectural integrity has been well preserved, even after its conversion to a

police station A police station is a facility operated by police or a similar law enforcement agency that serves to accommodate police officers and other law enforcement personnel. The role served by a police station varies by agency, type, and jurisdiction, ...

Significance

The Old U.S. Post Office is significant for its association with the New Deal era and its role in the federal government's efforts to combat the economic challenges of the Great Depression. It is one of 32 post offices built in Mississippi during this time and serves as a key example of the architectural and historical impact of New Deal projects in rural America. The building was listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government's official United States National Register of Historic Places listings, list of sites, buildings, structures, Hist ...

on June 30, 1995, recognizing its historical and architectural importance.

Current Use

Today, the building serves as the Philadelphia Police Station. Despite this change in function, much of the original architectural detail remains intact, making it a well-preserved example of mid-20th century public architecture.NRHP Continuation Sheet, (Old) U.S. Post Office-Philadelphia, Neshoba County, Mississippi; Section 7, pages 2-3
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References

External links

{{commonscat-inline Post office buildings on the National Register of Historic Places in Mississippi National Register of Historic Places in Neshoba County, Mississippi Government buildings completed in 1936 Neoclassical architecture in Mississippi Philadelphia, Mississippi