Old Chardon Post Office named Historic

From this week's News Herald:

"It's official.The former Chardon Post Office was nominated Friday to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The building, just south of Chardon Square, was unanimously approved for nomination by the Ohio Historic Site Preservation Advisory Board.The recommendation now will go to the keeper of the National Register of Historic Places, where it is expected to be in process for about three months before a final verdict is rendered."At this point, it's been through enough hoops that it would be pretty unusual if it doesn't get listed," said Tom Wolf, public education manager for the Ohio Historical Society's Ohio Historic Preservation Office.The building - a Depression-era Public Works Administration project - served as a post office from 1940 through 1984. Occupants changed a few times during the next 22 years. Then Chardon-based Neece & Malec CPAs acquired and renovated the building."We're really pleased," said managing partner Shawn Neece of the nomination. "It's nice to have the building appreciated. It's good for our firm, but it's good for the city, too."The National Register listing would make the firm eligible for tax breaks on any future renovations.Neece said most of the remodeling already is complete, with newly refurbished terrazzo floors, marble and wood-paneled walls. The postmaster's office is now a conference room, and the stamp vault is used for
storage of supplies. Original hardwood floors, cornice molding and skylight windows were restored.Also remaining are the original "secret corridors" that were installed to allow the postmaster and postal inspectors to covertly watch postal employees."