Form 10-300 (July 1969)

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM

(Type all entries — complete applicable sections)

STATE:

MinnesotaCOUNTY;

BrownFOR NPS USE ONLY

ENTRY NUMBER

10 T/71

COMMON:

Federal Post Office BuildingAND/OR HISTORIC:

New Ulm Post Office

STREET AND NUMBER:

Center Strgpt. and BroadwayCITY OR TOWN:

New Ulm

Minnesota,, .Brown

CATEGORY

(Check One)OWNERSHIP STATUS

ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC

D District g] Building

5j Site Q Structure

D Object

3 Public

CD Private

Both

Public Acquisition:

|| In Process

| | Being Considered

B Occupied,, . , Unoccupied

i — ID ^. • Q Rreservotion work

in progress

Yes:

£] Restricted-"^CD Unrestricted•' — I

PRESENT USE (Check One'or More as Appropriate)

CD Agricultural

CD Commercial

CD Educational

[ 1 Entertainment

CD Government

D Industrial

1 1 Military

CD Museum

CD Park

Q Private Residence

| | Religious

| | Scientific

CD Transportation

£] Other (Specify)

Post Office

I I Comments

OWNER'S NAME:

Federal G-overnJientSTREET AND NUMBER:

CITY OR TOWN:

Washington D.C.CODE

08

COURTHOUSE, REGISTRY OF DEEDS, ETC:

Brown County Courthouse T Register of DeedsSTREET AND NUMBER:

? gO H

Center and StateCl TY OR TOWN:

New Ulm Minnesota 22

TITLE OF SURVEY:

Minnesota State Register of Historic SitesDATE OF SURVEY: 1 Q69 Federal State CD County CD LocalDEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS:

Minnesota Historical SocietSTREET AND NUMBER:

Fort Snelling Branch, Building 9S, Fort SpellCITY OR TOWN:

St. Paul 99

CONDITIONJ£] Excel

D

ent D Good

(Check One)

Altered CI

D Fair

(Check One)

1 1 Deteriorated

Unaltered

a Ruins I I Unexposed

D Moved

(Check One)

J£] Original Site

DESCRIBE THE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL (if known) PHYSICAL. APPEARANCE

The New Ulm Post Office building was built in 1909 and is still in use. It is excellently preserved. Overall measurements o£ the struc­ ture are: 72' 5" long, 55' wide, total height 59'.

The original exterior design and construction of the building are singularily unique. The structure is of alte^atj.n£jcjgjurses of deep red tough brick and grey-white terra cotta stone, a manufactured con­ crete stone. Below the fiassdt floor, the exterior walls aue of brick and granite to the ground level.

The main entrance is on Center Street and faces south. On this side the doorway has a Doric pediment and cornice aadi squared columns. An additional entrance is on Broadway, facing west. A driveway and parking area are provided around the building on the two off street sides. The building is one^and one half sdjorids high with a steep slate roof and steeply stfipped end gables topped by long blflnt finials that are well above the roof ridge. The end gables have matching stepped-up windows. The broad side facing Center Street has three steep roofed gables. In each there are corresponding pairs of oblong windows. The center gable on this side is as highjfthe roof ridge, and a brick­ work design graduates up the stepped roof to the fi.nl al peak. This design matches the rounded window tops of the gable. The gables to either side of the denter one on the broad side are lower and are decorated with scroll work instead of stepped sides, and they are topped by pedimented pinnacles. All three gables on this side also have a circular sfcone/inset on the same level above the windows.

CO

m m

CO

TO

n

Renaissance style is reflected in the freedom o'tf expression and the excellence of the design in the building. Specifically German Renaissance, originally from France and the Low Countries, is shown in the individuality of the design, the stepped gables, the decorative de4- tails, and the combined use of brick and stone. Renaissance Baroque details are evident in the decoration, such as scrolls, cartouches, and in the feeling of upward thrust, steep roof pitch, and the use of Ma­ terials .

The unique character of this building results primarily from the unusually steep roof, flanked by the stepped gable and dormer ends. It lacks grace and refinement yet is brutally dramatic. The exterior has a dignified control of expression and is a worthy and notable ment in desiga that should be preserved.

PERIOD (CfrecJr One or More as Appropriate)

PI Pre-Columbian j [~| 16th Century

O T5th Century O 17th Century_Z

20th Century

SPECIFIC DATECSI (If Applicable and Known) ' | <^ fQ

Abor iginal

Q Prehistoric

C3 Historic

{ | Agriculture

03 Architecture

D Art

| | Commerce

| | Communications

[ | Conservation

[~1 Education

Q Engineering

Q Industry

f~1 Invention

[~~1 Landscape

Architecture

C~) Literature

0 Military

Q Music

D

a

a a a

a a

Political

Religion/Phi,

losophy

Science

Sculpture

Social/Human­

itarian

Theater

Transportation

[~1 Urban Planning

|JJ3 Other (Specify)

reflects localISermon culture

zO

H

U

ID

o: H

illLLJ

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

The building reflects the origins of the founders^ of New Him in 1854. These first settlers came from an area of Europe which included Wurtemberg, Bavaria, Bohemia, Hesse£ Luxemburg, and Swit­ zerland. They were skilled artisans, expert stone masons and brick workers. In their structures in the vicinity of New Him before the turn of the century they adapted various elements of design from their homelands, as well as adding innovations of their own creation. They expressed their individualityin&methods of construetion? orna­ mentation, and design. No pure style emerged in their buildings, but a "New Ulm" s£yle is discernible in their work from the 1860 f s to about 1900. The post office exterior reflects the same freedom in design as well as the predominant background.of the settlers.

Funds for the Post Office in New Ulm were approved by Congress in ._19()6, and the site was purchased the same yeari Originally the appropriation was for $39,000. It is said that when the tentative plans were received in New Ulm there was a most vigorous protest becausi they "showed a lack of architectural beauty. 11- - A subsequent omnibus bill added $20,000 for a total of $50,000*X^New plans were drawn. The supervising architect was^ames KnoaHraylor o£ Washing­ ton. The contractors were Stewart and Hager of Janesville, Wis­ consin. Designed with the German background of New Ulm in .mind, the building was completed and opened in 1910.

Significantly, for the first thirty years not even a sign was allowed to mar the exterior details. Even today the only identi­ fication on the building is a small, unobtl/sive "New Ulm, Minnesota Post Officer" An iiapesing structure in the central city, the building has sufficient surrounding ppen space. It is eye arresting and pleasing. It blends with the other characteristic buildings scat­ tered through the city. It ifteih&s mo&ib interesting and popular landmark in New Ulm.

Historical Secords, Brown County Historical Museum, New Ulxn, Minnesota,

includes correspondence, newspaper clippings, original archi­ tectural drawings, and photographs from beginning of construction to date

LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE COORDINATES

DEFINING A RECTANGLE LOCATING THE PROPERTY

NW

NE

SE

-S8L

LATITUDE

Degrees Minutes Seconds

LONGITUDE

Degrees Minutes Seconds Degrees Minutes Seconds

44 18 ' 15 •

LONGITUDE

Degrees Minutes Seconds

94 27 ' 35

APPROXIMATE ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY:

ILIST ALL STATES AND COUNTIES FOR PROPERTIES OVERLAPPING STATE afT^OUN TY^ftOUND ARI1ES

COUNTY /\

COUNTY/^.."/

COUNTY :\<A

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50c nH

O

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NAME AND TITLE:

ORGANIZATION

CaTin and .PageDATE

-. March 18f 1Q7QSTREET AND NUMBER:

CITY OR TOWN:

. St. Paul ,22,

As the designated State Liaison Officer for the Na­

tional Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (Public Law

89-665), I hereby nominate this property for inclusion

in the National Register and certify that it has been

evaluated according to the criteria and procedures set

forth by the National Park Service. The recommended

level of significance of this nomination is:

National D State Xll 'Local Q

Name

Title Director, Minn. Hist. Soc.

I hereby certify that this property is included in the

National Register.

Chief, Office of Archeology and Historic Preservation

BateAPR 2 8 1970

ATTEST:

Bate March 25, 1970 Date

Ceeper of The~Na^ion^l Register

APR 13 "

Form 10-301 (July 1969)

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES

PROPERTY MAP FORM

(Type all entries - attach to or enclose with map)

STATE

MinnesotaCOUNTY

BrownFOR NPS USE ONLY

ENTRY NUMBER

70 -4- 2-Z'QOO P

COMMON: Federal Post Office BuildingAND/OR HISTORIC: JJew TTTjn Post Office

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STREET AND NUM BER:

Center Street and BroadwayCITY OR TOWN:

Hew TllmSTATE:

Minnesota 22 01

SOURCE:

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Form 10-301 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (Dec. 1968) NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC

PROPERTY MAP FORM

^ (Type all entries - attach to or enclose w

zo

PLACES

STATE

MinnesotaCOUNTY

BrownFOR NPS USE ONLY

ENTRY NUMBER

I^« //. ^^jflfi^1&;»;s^S3K:3»^

DATE

4^/2 P/

COMMON: Federal Post Office Building /V^''" ""^''""AAND/OR HisTORic-Hew TJini, Minnesota, Post Office /H ^\€\$& ' ;"^\

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K

STREET AND NUM BER:

Center Street and BroadwayCITY OR TOWN:

Few UlmSTATE: co

Minnesots ?z

LU

^

SOURCE:

Sitf» plat, "Register of Doe'"

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V\ ̂ ^^^ :JDE COUNTY:\//>>: > ._

'2 Br^si^fQ^';y

?, Brown County

CODE

01"?

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SCALE: Vrr^O'

DATE: 1915

TO BE INCLUDED ON ALL MAPS

1. Property broundaries where required. 2. North arrow. 3. Latitude and longitude reference.

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Nf9 Form 10400* OM0 *epro** Ho. »02«-OOU <»«•)

United States Department of the InteriorNational Park Service

National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet

Section number ____ Page ____

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ^W Keeper/

NFS Foim 10400* OUB AfpHH* No. 1<»+<)01t

United States Department of the InteriorNational Park Service

National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet

Section number ___ Page ___

Note: These changes apply to Federal Post Office Building in Brown County, Minnesota.

REFERENCE NUMBER: 70000287

STATE: MINNESOTA

COUNTY: Brown

RESOURCE NAME (HISTORIC): New Ulm Post Office

CITY:

VICINITY OF:

ADDRESS:

CERTIFICATION DATE;

REMOVED DATE:

COMMENTS:

JUN17Nina M. Archabal Date State Historic Preservation Officer