Federal Building--US Post Office - Independence, KS - U.S. National Register of Historic Places on Waymarking.com

County of building: Montgomery County
Location of building: 123 N. 8th St., Independence
Built 1911
Architect, builder, or engineer: Walter D. Lovell
Cornerstone shows James Taylor Knox as Supervising Architect

"The Federal Building/Independence Post Office (c. 1911-12, 1937) is located on the southwest corner of the intersection of Eighth Avenue and West Myrtle Street in Independence, Montgomery County, Kansas (pop. 10,598). This one-story hip-roofed, rectangular brick and stone Classical Revival structure stands on the west side of the town's central business district. The main seven-bay facade faces Eighth Avenue to the east; there is a rear three-bay addition on Myrtle Street to the west. The main block is approximately 92 feet long and 50 feet wide; the addition is 85 feet long and 44 feet wide. Designed by the staff of the Treasury Architect, this building was detailed in the classical tradition to express the prevailing concept that, government buildings should be monumental and beautiful.

The postmaster's office, vault, and assistant postmaster's office were located along the north wall. There is a passage separating these rooms from the original workroom. The assistant's office had large fixed windows in its outer partition walls to oversee activity in the workroom. This room has been converted into a kitchen. Both the original workroom and the extension were large open spaces; only the furniture has been removed. A modern low platform has been installed in the extension to the west. The addition workroom has a large overhead skylight. Along the south wall of the original block there was an office suite for C.O.D. and registered mail. To the south the addition had a mailing vestibule with an inner and outer set of paired metal swinging doors. A mezzanine above the south office suite and the vestibule provided a lookout gallery for postal inspectors along the north side. The carriers' restroom, mezzanine stair, and swing room were located to the south.

The original block of this building (1911) is architecturally significant because it represents the distinctive characteristics of a first class post office.

During the tenure of James Knox Taylor (1897-1912) as Supervising Architect of the Treasury, the Federal Government promoted the concept that government buildings should be monumental and beautiful, and should represent the ideals of democracy and high standards of architectural sophistication in their communities. Taylor preferred styles derived from classical or early American traditions. ~ NRHP Nomination Form