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Building History

James Knox Taylor designed this Italian Renaissance building, notable for its graceful, symmetrical composition. The front facade had a central bay, slightly inset, trimmed with three arches carried by engaged Tuscan columns; on either side, two bays were lit by a thin window (covered with bars) and a larger trabeated window. The building was clad in a permanent stone finish and was topped by a red-tiled roof. This was the City of Alameda's first permanent post office; for the previous 60 years, postal facilities were rented in various buildings throughout the city. The building had an appropriation of $120,000, a large sum for such a small building; costs were driven up by the granite exterior facing, bronzework, carved ornament, marble floors and interior wainscoting. The post office served the city of Alameda from 1912-1972; the City of Alameda bought the vacant structure in 1974 for $165,000. Private developers bought it in 1977 for $191,770. The City of Alameda used it after this as a municipal court and administrative offices. Sold after 2000, it received a seismic renovation and was altered to accommodate medical offices.

Building Notes

The Old Post Office was cited as a major contributor to the Park Street Historic Commercial District, National Historic Register; William D. Newman has been cited as the architect of the building, although all post office work had to be approved by the Supervising Architect of the U.S. Treasury, James Knox Taylor.

The professional magazine for heating, plumbing and ventilation contractors, Domestic Engineering, reported in 1912: "Sealed bids will be received at the office of the supervising architect , Treasury building, Washington, D.C., up to May 21st 1912, for the plumbing, gas piping, heating apparatus and other work on the United States Post Office at Alameda, Cal." (See "news of the Plumbing and Heating Contractors," Domestic Engineering, vol. LIX, no. 6, 05/11/1912, p. 156.)