The Old Post Office at Washington Street and Montgomery Avenue has been a familiar landmark for my family throughout our time in Montgomery County. Built in 1938 as part of the New Deal’s Works Progress Administration, it was Rockville’s first permanent post office, replacing the previous location at the Montgomery County Courthouse.
Postal service in Rockville dates back to 1794, established by Thomas Perry Wilson. Before the post office was constructed, the site housed the Montgomery County Sentinel, a newspaper founded by Matthew Fields
in 1855.
What strikes me most about the building is its distinct appearance. Unlike many structures in the area, which follow federal or classical styles, the post office stands out. It was one of 406 post offices built nationwide under the WPA initiative.
The Rockville post office officially opened on July 22, 1939, marked by a large parade attended by over 3,000 people. A reception followed at Glenview Mansion.
The project cost $77,000, with $35,000 allocated for purchasing the lot. The building was designed under the supervision of architects Louis A. Simon and R. Stanley-Brown.
Today, the historic structure serves a new purpose as a Montgomery County police station.