The Westhampton Beach U.S. Post Office was built in 1940-41. It was designed by Louis A. Simons and demonstrates a stark version of Colonial Revival architecture.
This is an example of federal buildings constructed as part of the Works Projects Administration that was created by order of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and funded by Congress with passage of the Emergency Relief Appropriation Act of 1935. The Works Progress Administration (renamed in 1939 as the Work Projects Administration; WPA) was the largest and most ambitious New Deal agency, employing millions of unemployed people (mostly unskilled men) to carry out public works projects,[1] including the construction of public buildings and roads. In much smaller but more famous projects the WPA employed musicians, artists, writers, actors and directors in large arts, drama, media, and literacy projects.[1]
Almost every community in the United States had a new park, bridge or school constructed by the agency. The WPA’s initial appropriation in 1935 was for $4.9 billion (about 6.7 percent of the 1935 GDP), and in total it spent $13.4 billion.[2]
The interior has much of its original dark woodwork plus a well-preserved mural “Outdoor Sports” painted by Sol Wilson in 1942. Today it remains an active Post Office serving the Westhampton Beach area operated by the US Government. Open during business hours. For more information call (631) 288-4093.
The Westhampton Beach Post Office was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989. see http://historic.southamptontownny.gov/ for further information and photos.