EARLY 1900's

From 1870 to 1910, Hornell NY tripled in size and the demands on the postal service necessitated the construction of a new, large-scale facility with public windows, mail sorting facilities, and office space for USPS staff. The post office was built in 1916 and opened to the public in 1917. In the 1940's, the lobby was expanded to provide additional teller windows. It was abandoned for a new modest one-story building in the early 1960's.

MID-CENTURY

The building was acquired by the Hornell City School district and subsequently converted into the school district offices.  The mail room was partitioned into small, discreet spaces and, in order to reduce heating costs, the 23-foot ceilings were reconfigured as 9-foot high office space.  The marble lobby was carpeted and ceiling height reduced, obscuring original details.  Throughout the building, most of the plaster work was covered with wood fiberboard. 

GUT RENOVATION AND REHAB

After the building sat for a number of years, the Hornell City School district auctioned it in 1997.  At the time of sale, there was extensive damage due to mold, water infiltration, and general deterioration.  

Since the building was saved from neglect and possible demolition in the late-1990's, it has undergone strategic and continual renovation, beginning with a series of projects in the early 2000's, including roof replacement to stabilize the building and prevent further deterioration. The poorly-conceived alterations - drop ceilings, carpet, paneling, electric heaters -  from the early 1960's were largely removed to restore the original set of spaces as constructed in 1916. In 1998 the OPO was added to the National Register of Historic Places.  More recently, the original electric service was replaced, the exterior was restored to match original paint colors, and the interior has been reimagined as a stripped-down, minimalist space with original details recalling its past use.