08/26/2026
Heritage Ohio’s 250 Buildings, 250 Stories celebrates the places that hold the heart of our communities. One of Ravenna’s most cherished landmarks—our historic Ravenna Post Office—stands proudly among those stories.
Ravenna’s Post Office is a shining architectural treasure, honoring our past while reflecting a strong and vibrant future. Its craftsmanship showcases details rarely found in modern construction: delicately carved baseboards, beautifully accented postal boxes, and colorful painted wall frescos that depict the rich history of our area. Every corner of the building carries a sense of intention, artistry, and community pride.
Our community values this remarkable structure, a post office unlike any other in the region. It remains not only a functional space but a symbol of Ravenna’s heritage—an enduring reminder of the beauty and character that define our downtown.
For more than 90 years, the Ravenna Post Office has served the community in exactly the way it was intended, making it a remarkable example of both architectural preservation and continuity of purpose.
Built in 1934 at a cost of $88,000, the Art Deco-influenced building was designed by architects Albert H. Good and Edwin D. Wagner and constructed by the Robert Evans Company of Canton. Ravenna’s need for a first-class post office was driven in part by the success of the Ford Seed Company, which mailed catalogs and seed packets to customers across the country and around the world.
From the beginning, the Post Office was truly a community building. Despite freezing rain, approximately 300 residents attended the cornerstone ceremony and parade in November 1933. A time capsule filled with mementos from those in attendance remains within the cornerstone. When the completed building opened for public tours in March 1934, an estimated 3,000 people came to see their new Post Office.
Inside, many of the building’s original details remain, including decorative moldings and an important mural by WPA artist Clarence Holbrook Carter depicting “Early Ravenna.” Even as the community grew, the building continued to serve its original purpose. Increased mail volume led to a major addition in 1963, allowing the Post Office to adapt while remaining in its historic downtown home.
Today, the Ravenna Post Office remains both a working public building and a familiar community landmark. Generations of residents have walked through its doors to mail packages, purchase stamps, collect correspondence, and carry out the ordinary routines that connect people and communities. While many historic buildings have changed uses numerous times, Ravenna’s Post Office has remained steadfast—an unbroken thread connecting the Ravenna of 1934 with the community of today.
250 Buildings 250 Stories celebrates the places that hold the stories of our communities. What building in your hometown has been part of everyday life for generations? Submit it to Heritage Ohio’s 250 Buildings, 250 Stories initiative and help us tell the stories of the places that make Ohio’s communities unique. www.heritageohio.org/250-buildings-250-stories
