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Westerly Post Office (Former)
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.
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