United States Post Office (Ely, Nevada)

The U.S. Post Office in Ely, Nevada was built to a standardized plan developed by the Office of the Supervising Architect, led by Louis A. Simon. The building uses an attenuated Classical style that was popular with Federal buildings in the 1930s. The post office opened on January 29, 1938, following delays in the start of construction. It closed in 2002, and was reopened in 2005 as a convention center for the nearby Hotel Nevada and Gambling Hall. That year, it was also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

U.S. Post Office, Ely, Nevada
Postal Palace Convention Center in 2014
Location415 Fifth St., Ely, Nevada
Coordinates39°14′50.4″N 114°53′34.7″W
Built1937
ArchitectSimon, Louis A.; et al.
Architectural styleClassical Revival
MPSUS Post Offices in Nevada MPS
NRHP reference No.05001122
Added to NRHPOctober 7, 2005[1]

Description

The building footprint is about 3,800 square feet (350 m2), with a symmetrical facade. The building is one story in front, with a two-story section at the loading dock to the rear. The primary building material is brick, with cast stone accents. The building's most distinctive feature was removed in 1977 as part of accessibility improvements, when the original classical pediment and entry doors were removed and replaced by an aluminum storefront. The interior consists of a public lobby furnished with plaster walls and tile wainscot and floor. A work area and offices occupy the remain two thirds of the main level. A basement contains storage and utility spaces.[2]

History

The Ely Post Office was built as part of an appropriation for post offices in Ely, Elko, Las Vegas and Reno, passed in June 1932.[2] Plans to construct the post office were delayed because of a price dispute between the federal government and the owner of the preferred building site.[2] The issue was settled in court in July 1933, and construction was to begin that month.[2][3] However, from July 1933 to April 1937, the Nevada and federal governments disputed which of the two would have ownership of the land, with the federal government refusing to construct the post office until it was given complete jurisdiction of the property.[2][3] Construction began in June 1937,[4] and the post office was completed in late January 1938.[5] It opened with a dedication ceremony on January 29, 1938.[6][7][8]

The post office closed in 2002,[9] following the opening of a new postal facility in 1999.[10] In October 2003, following efforts by U.S. Senator Harry Reid, it was announced that the postmaster general would make the building available to Ely for community use.[9] In November 2003, the White Pine County commission approved a tentative plan to lease the building from the Postal Service for a nine-month term, on the condition that the county could receive federal funding to renovate the building.[11] The county determined that the building would need an expansion to accommodate various county offices that were intended to be relocated there.[12]

The post office was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 7, 2005 as US Post Office, Ely, Nevada.[1][13] The post office remained vacant until it was purchased by the nearby Hotel Nevada and Gambling Hall, which reopened the building as its Postal Palace convention center on December 15, 2005.[10]

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  2. Harmon, Mella Rothwell (February 15, 2005). "National Register of Historic Places Registration: US Post Office, Ely, Nevada". National Park Service. Retrieved 2009-05-21.
  3. "Ely Postoffice Work Is Held Up By U.S.". Reno Evening Gazette. July 18, 1933. Retrieved March 22, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. "New Postoffice Is Dedicated At Ely". Reno Evening Gazette. July 8, 1937. Retrieved March 22, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. "Ely Postoffice is Dedicated Today". Reno Evening Gazette. January 29, 1938. Retrieved March 22, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. "Dedication Set for Postoffice at Ely". Reno Evening Gazette. January 6, 1938. Retrieved March 22, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. "Ely Plans Dedication For Federal Building". Nevada State Journal. January 23, 1938. Retrieved March 22, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. "Ely Dedicates New Postoffice; Senator Speaks". Nevada State Journal. January 30, 1938. Retrieved March 22, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. "Ely will get to use former post office". Reno Gazette-Journal. October 6, 2003. Retrieved March 22, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. "Ely Postal Palace opens for seniors' Christmas party". The Ely Times. January 6, 2006. Retrieved March 22, 2019 – via NewsLibrary.
  11. Fillman, Kristi (November 15, 2003). "Commission agrees to lease downtown P.O." The Ely Times. Archived from the original on September 5, 2004.
  12. Fillman, Kristi (February 14, 2004). "Post office tight squeeze for county offices". The Ely Times. Archived from the original on September 21, 2004.
  13. "Ely Main Post Office added to federal Historic Places registry". The Ely Times. November 4, 2005. Retrieved March 22, 2019 – via NewsLibrary.
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