United States Post Office and Court House
National Register Listing
Street Address:
201 Magnolia St., Spartanburg, SC (Spartanburg County)
Alternate Name:
Donald Stuart Russell Federal Courthouse
NRHP Nomination
Record Number:
S10817742075
Description and Narrative:
The U.S. Post Office and Courthouse in Spartanburg was built in 1931. Its construction was the result of the Public Buildings Act of 1926, which precipitated an unprecedented period of federal building construction in the United States. It was designed by the Office of the Supervising Architect of the Treasury and completed at a cost of $300,000. The building served to combine a regional postal facility with the U.S. District Court for the Western District of South Carolina, while also providing offices for several other federal agencies. It was listed in the National Register for its significance both under Criterion A for its association with the federal government’s building program, and under Criterion C for its representation of Georgian Revival architecture. One notable feature is the tower on the south elevation, which is suggestive of Collegiate Gothic architecture and offers a subtle break from the style of the rest of the building. In 1994 the building was designated as the “Donald Stuart Russell Federal Courthouse,” named in honor of Donald S. Russell who served as president of the University of South Carolina (1952-57), S.C. Governor (1963-65), U.S. Senator (1965-66), U.S. District Court Judge (1966-71), and U.S. Court of Appeals Judge (1971-98). It remains in use as a federal courthouse and home to federal agencies including the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Probation Services. Listed in the National Register January 31, 2017.
Period of Significance:
1931
Area of Significance:
Architecture;Politics/Government
National Register Determination:
listed
Date of Certification:
January 31 2017
