About the Building
More than a century of postal service, federal justice, community history, and preservation within the walls of McCook’s Old Post Office.
A Landmark Built to Endure
Standing proudly at the top of Norris Avenue in historic downtown McCook, Nebraska, The Old Post Office has served as one of the community’s most recognizable landmarks for more than a century.
The building’s carved cornerstone is dated 1915, while the completed Federal Building entered service in 1916. Faced with Indiana limestone, it brought McCook’s post office and federal court functions together beneath one roof, creating a dignified civic landmark at a prominent location in the growing railroad community.
The cornerstone records William G. McAdoo as Secretary of the Treasury and Oscar Wenderoth as Supervising Architect. Wenderoth directed the Office of the Supervising Architect of the U.S. Treasury, the federal office responsible for the design and construction of post offices, courthouses, and other government buildings.
Its Classical Revival architecture, monumental stone exterior, balanced proportions, and commanding position reflected the importance of McCook as a regional center in southwestern Nebraska during the early twentieth century.
For decades, postal employees worked on the main floor while federal court proceedings were held within the building. The courthouse served the U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska from 1916 through 1955.
During construction of the new Red Willow County Courthouse in 1926 and 1927, county offices also temporarily operated within the Federal Building, further adding to its role in the civic life of McCook.
A Century of Service and Preservation
1916
The new Federal Building opens as McCook’s United States Post Office and federal courthouse.
1926–27
Red Willow County offices temporarily occupy space in the building while the new county courthouse is constructed.
1955
The building’s documented service as a federal district courthouse ends after nearly four decades.
1980s–Today
Postal operations move to a newer facility. David and Sharon Huegel later acquire the historic building and preserve it as the home of Huegel’s Hutch Antiques.
Designed as a Civic Monument
The building’s formal Classical Revival design belongs to a national era in which federal architecture was intended to communicate permanence and dignity. Its stone façade, strong symmetry, prominent entrance, and substantial scale distinguish it from the surrounding commercial buildings.
Seen from downtown, the building forms a visual anchor at the head of Norris Avenue along with the Red Willow County Courthouse and other Civic structures.
- Monumental Indiana limestone exterior
- Formal Classical Revival composition
- Prominent placement overlooking Norris Avenue
- Purpose-built spaces for postal and federal court functions
- More than a century of community identity
The Building Through Time
These ten views are arranged chronologically. Select any image to open the original full-size file.
Historic Architecture Filled with Historic Treasures
Today, The Old Post Office is home to Huegel’s Hutch Antiques, where visitors can explore an ever-changing collection of antiques, collectibles, historical objects, and curiosities within one of Southwest Nebraska’s most distinctive historic buildings.