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Westerly Post Office (Former)

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Former
1913–1914, James Knox Taylor, Supervising Architect of the Treasury. 1 High St. (corner of High and Broad sts.)
  • Westerly Post Office (Former) (John M. Miller)

But we are not yet finished with the classical revival in downtown Westerly. This is Rhode Island's finest post office. During James Knox Taylor's administration as Supervising Architect of the Treasury, long colonnades became the principal ingredient of many post offices. The sweep of this colonnade and its steps to follow the curve of the street energize the symmetrical composition. The splendid proportions of the colonnade, contained by the terminating walls and the spare but meticulous detailing (including the fine bronze lamp standards) complete the elevation. What a fortunate juxtaposition of classical buildings this triangle contains! The Industrial Trust as entrance; the Washington Trust as wall; and finally, the post office, which shows how a wall can also be an entrance.

Writing Credits

Author: 
William H. Jordy et al.
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Citation

William H. Jordy et al., "Westerly Post Office (Former)", [Westerly, Rhode Island], SAH Archipedia, eds. Gabrielle Esperdy and Karen Kingsley, Charlottesville: UVaP, 2012—, http://sah-archipedia.org/buildings/RI-01-WE17.

Print Source

Buildings of Rhode Island, William H. Jordy, with Ronald J. Onorato and William McKenzie Woodward. New York: Oxford University Press, 2004, 413-413.

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