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Overview

This Mediterranean Revival building was designed by George M. Lindsay, working with the Office of the Acting Supervising Architect of the US Treasury, James A. Wetmore (1863-1940). Lindsay designed the post office in the early 1930s and work was completed in the early 1934.

Building History

This post office was named for Carlos J. Moorhead by an act of Congress, 11/19/1997. A Republican, Representative Carlos J. Moorhead (1922-2011) served the 20th District of CA (1973-1975), 22nd District (1975-1993), and the 27th District, (1993-1997).

Some concern was raised in 2013 about the possible closure of the Glendale Main Post Office and its sale to a private party.

Building Notes

This eclectic building melded various stylistic elements, most of which derived from Italian sources of various periods. Some of its stylistic elements were typical of the Mediterranean Revival Style with a composition and other decorative elements drawn from Palladian Neo-Classicism. The building's formal, tripartite composition, with a main, central block flanked by lower wings, suggests Palladian sources, as does the architect's use of balustrades on the roofs of the wings. The central block had the bearing of a small Renaissance palazzo, with its rusticated surface, rondels, and arched doorway. Mediterranean Revival features, such as the prominent Spanish tile roof and ample eaves brackets, were thought to be very appropriate to California and its Mediterranean climate. Interestingly, the building has an open central courtyard, typical of ancient Roman domestic design.

Constructed in the 1930s, after significant earthquakes had struck Southern CA in 1925 (Santa Barbara) and 1933 (Long Beach), a steel frame was viewed as critical for a prominent government building. Architect Lindsay surfaced the post office with terra cotta cladding scored to resemble rusticated stone.