Georgetown Post Office and Custom House

Located in one of the oldest historic districts in the United States, the 1857 Georgetown Post Office was designed by Ammi Burnham Young, as a US Customs House. The National Register structure is recognized as one of the oldest continuously operating post offices in the country. The handsomely proportioned exterior is ornamented with restrained Greek Revival cornices, lintels, sills, and moldings. Prior to its restoration, however, the structure had suffered from water damage, corrosive pitting, inappropriate modernizations and a general lack of proper maintenance.

Non-contributing exterior additions from 1906 and 1926 and several interior remodeling had obscured, damaged or destroyed many historic elements. This was particularly true on the interior where, although not listed as historic, researched revealed modernizations had largely hidden or removed many of the original finishes, applied decorative elements and fixtures. However, the original structural elements, cast iron column capitals and stairways, wood flooring and some plaster ornamentation were still intact.

Overall, the approach to the restoration and renovation of the structure consisted of removing non-contributing exterior accretions, restoring as much of the original structure as possible while still meeting the client’s need for a modern, efficient facility. Part of the rear workroom, an addition, was removed to create a sky-lit postal box area that allows the rear facade of the original Customs House to be seen once again. Intact elements on the interior of the building were restored or, where missing or beyond repair, were recreated. New flooring at the entry to the building was selected based on research of similar buildings by the original architect. The result is a sensitive blend of restored and modern elements.