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St. Johns Post Office (Portland, Oregon)
Encyclopedia
The St. Johns Station U.S. Post Office is a historic building located in the St. Johns neighborhood
of Portland
, Oregon
, United States.
(also Colonial Revival-style) typical of Depression Era federal architecture. The building exhibits classical symmetry and proportion, yet is a transitional building in that it lacks the archæological detail of classically inspired federal architecture of the Beaux Arts tradition. The building's Georgian style is suggested in the detailing of the arched Palladian windows and termination of the facade with a molded frieze and cornice.
The building's lobby features two murals with both a local and state significance. They are titled "Development of St. Johns" and were completed in 1936 by John Ballator under the auspices of the Treasury Department
's Section of Painting and Sculpture
. The murals depict the development of the neighborhood with significant historical events and prominent citizens. John Ballator, was an artist from Topeka, who was born in Portland in 1909 and received his commission as a result of an open anonymous competition, to create the murals. Ballator attended the University of Oregon
and the Yale School of Fine Arts
.
The building is also unique among small Oregon post offices in that it was designed by a local architect, Francis Marion Stokes
, who designed several architecturally prominent buildings in the Portland area, several of which are included in the city's historic resource inventory.
Center.
on August 31, 1984 and was added to the Register in 1985.
St. Johns, Portland, Oregon
St. Johns is a neighborhood of Portland, Oregon, United States located in North Portland on the tip of the peninsula formed by the confluence of the Willamette River and the Columbia River....
of Portland
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, United States.
Architecture
The St. John Station Post Office is an example of a small community post office constructed in the 20th Century Georgian styleGeorgian architecture
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
(also Colonial Revival-style) typical of Depression Era federal architecture. The building exhibits classical symmetry and proportion, yet is a transitional building in that it lacks the archæological detail of classically inspired federal architecture of the Beaux Arts tradition. The building's Georgian style is suggested in the detailing of the arched Palladian windows and termination of the facade with a molded frieze and cornice.
Art
United States Department of the Treasury
The Department of the Treasury is an executive department and the treasury of the United States federal government. It was established by an Act of Congress in 1789 to manage government revenue...
's Section of Painting and Sculpture
Section of Painting and Sculpture
The Treasury Section of Painting and Sculpture , commonly known as "the Section," was established in 1934 and administered by the Procurement Division of the United States Department of the Treasury....
. The murals depict the development of the neighborhood with significant historical events and prominent citizens. John Ballator, was an artist from Topeka, who was born in Portland in 1909 and received his commission as a result of an open anonymous competition, to create the murals. Ballator attended the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
and the Yale School of Fine Arts
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
.
The architect
Francis Marion Stokes
Francis Marion Stokes , was an American architect famous for his works in the Portland, Oregon, area. Francis and his father William R. Stokes, formed two generations of a Portland design and architectural tradition lasting for over 80 years, from 1882 though the 1960s...
, who designed several architecturally prominent buildings in the Portland area, several of which are included in the city's historic resource inventory.
The building
The current address of the building is 8720 N Ivanhoe Street in Multnomah County. It was purchased on September 17, 1992 to become the Portland Bahá'íBahá'í Faith
The Bahá'í Faith is a monotheistic religion founded by Bahá'u'lláh in 19th-century Persia, emphasizing the spiritual unity of all humankind. There are an estimated five to six million Bahá'ís around the world in more than 200 countries and territories....
Center.
National Register
The building was nominated for listing in the National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
on August 31, 1984 and was added to the Register in 1985.
See also
- Francis Marion Stokes FourplexFrancis Marion Stokes FourplexThe Francis Marion Stokes Fourplex is a historic residential building located in the Northwest district of Portland, Oregon, United States.-Architecture:...
- Georgian architectureGeorgian architectureGeorgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
- Architecture in Portland, OregonArchitecture in Portland, OregonPortland architecture includes a number of notable buildings, a wide range of styles, and a few notable pioneering architects.The scale of many projects is relatively small, as a result of the relatively small size of downtown-Portland blocks and strict height restrictions enacted to protect views...
- National Register of Historic Places listings in North Portland, OregonNational Register of Historic Places listings in North Portland, OregonThe following list attempts to comprehensively present the full set of National Register of Historic Places listings in North Portland, Oregon, and offers brief descriptive information about each of them...