Intro
The US Federal Building and Courthouse. which stands at Kennedy Plaza opposite City Hall, opened to the public as the new Providence Post Office in November 1908. Built by local architectural firm Clarke & Howe, the federal governmentspent $1.3 million dollars for its construction.
Description
The Federal Building stands five stories tall and sports an exterior of New Hampshire granite and Indiana cream limestone. The roof is made of copper. On the main entrance side, which faces City Hall located across the Plaza, two groups of statues, carved of Tennessee marble, flank the portals.
The group on the left typifies the city of Providence - Independent Thought is in the middle flanked by statues representing Industry and Learning. The other personifies the United States - the middle figure is Sovereignty with Justice and Law and Order at her sides. The commission for these was awareded to well-known New York sculptor, and native of Scotland, J. Massey Rhind. Rhind had just recently completed the statuary on a Government Building in Indianapolis, IN to critic acclaim.
History
The old Post Office, erected in 1857 and located on Weybosset Street, was deemed inadequate for the needs of a rapidly growing urban population. A larger building, with more room to accommodate more people, was proposed in early 1900. In 1904, after a donation by the city of Providence of the land on which the building now stands, the federal government agreed to put up $1 million for construction.
The local architectural firm of Clarke & Howe was awarded the commission by a federally organized competition that also drew entries from New York and Boston based firms. Though contemporary accounts do not ascribe any particular style to the design of the building, it is quite an example of the style we now know of today as Beaux Art Classicism.
The building was not strictly made for the use of the United States Postal Service, however. Other tenants included the Custom House, the Internal Revenue Service, Steamboat Inspectors, District Attorney's Office, and the Civil Service Commission.
In 1907, just before construction was complete, five departments of the government were planned to inhabit it. It should have come to no surprise, then, when in 1918 this brand new federal building was, just like its predecessor, considered insufficient and government agencies were forced to seek shelter elsewhere. Three years later, the Post Office itself was returned to its former home on Weybosset Street. Other departments turned to renting office space from buildings nearby.
The Federal Building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. Five years later Congress allocated $1.6 million federal dollars to the building's renovation and expansion which were needed as it had become, yet once more, inadequate for the U.S. District Court, one of two government agencies it was currently housing. A new courtroom on the first floor, central air-conditioning and facilities for the handicapped were details of the plan. Today, only the Justice Department calls Exchange Place home.
History
The old Post Office, erected in 1857 and located on Weybosset Street, was deemed inadequate for the needs of a rapidly growing urban population. A larger building, with more room to accommodate more people, was proposed in early 1900. In 1904, after a donation by the city of Providence of the land on which the building now stands, the federal government agreed to put up $1 million for construction.
The local architectural firm of Clarke & Howe was awarded the commission by a federally organized competition that also drew entries from New York and Boston based firms. Though contemporary accounts do not ascribe any particular style to the design of the building, it is quite an example of the style we now know of today as Beaux Art Classicism.
The building was not strictly made for the use of the United States Postal Service, however. Other tenants included the Custom House, the Internal Revenue Service, Steamboat Inspectors, District Attorney's Office, and the Civil Service Commission.
In 1907, just before construction was complete, five departments of the government were planned to inhabit it. It should have come to no surprise, then, when in 1918 this brand new federal building was, just like its predecessor, considered insufficient and government agencies were forced to seek shelter elsewhere. Three years later, the Post Office itself was returned to its former home on Weybosset Street. Other departments turned to renting office space from buildings nearby.
The Federal Building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. Five years later Congress allocated $1.6 million federal dollars to the building's renovation and expansion which were needed as it had become, yet once more, inadequate for the U.S. District Court, one of two government agencies it was currently housing. A new courtroom on the first floor, central air-conditioning and facilities for the handicapped were details of the plan. Today, only the Justice Department calls Exchange Place home.
Sources
The Providence Journal
- "The Providence Post Office as it is to be," March 5, 1905
- "Uncle Sam Generous on New Post Office," July 9, 1907
- "Sculpture to Adorn Exchange Place Front of New Post Office," July 10, 1907
- "Tenants for Federal Building," November 24, 1907
- "The New Federal Building to be Dedicated To-Day.," November 23, 1908
- "Federal Building Now Inadequate," January 7, 1918
- "Renovations Slated for Federal Building," July 28, 1977
The Providence Journal Sunday Journal Magazine
"Uncle Sam Cramped Here," October 27, 1929
Board of Trade Journal
"New Post-Office Building for Providence," October 1903