Archives for May 2021

Cranford New Jersey Post Office

May 29, 2021 By David W. Gates Jr.

ADDRESS: 3 Miln St., Cranford, New Jersey 07016
ARTIST: Gerald Foster
TITLE: The Battle of Cranford during the American Revolution
MEDIUM: Oil on canvas (murals) 3 panels
STATUS: The Cranford post office is still an active, operating facility, and the murals can be viewed by interested members of the public. One large panel resides on a wall in the main lobby. A second panel resides on an adjacent wall above the mail boxes. One smaller panel resides in the retail section of the lobby.
YEAR: 1935

May 18th – 23rd, of 2021 I visited New Jersey. The purpose of my trip was to personally visit the Fort Lee post office before it is lost forever.

Cranford was another stop during my visit to New Jersey. Another busy place, I think I waited around a good half hour or so to get the images you see with no cars or people. Very challenging yes, but I’m glad I waited around.

Note, I did NOT break the downspout in front of the cornerstone. It was that way when I found it. I’m not sure what I would have done if it wasn’t broken as that would have prevented me from photographing the cornerstone. While I’m sad to see the downspout obstructing the cornerstone, I’m glad it was already broken so I could get a good photograph of it.

The murals in Cranford are huge and take up the entire wall space of the lobby. There is absolutely no way that I’m aware of to get the entire mural in one photograph. Good thing for video as that seems to be the best way to really observe an enjoy the artwork in Cranford.

It also appears the lobby was extensively remodeled in the past. The smaller panel was obviously designed to fit over the postmaster’s door as you can see by the cutout at the bottom.

As for the larger panel, it appears the mural was too big and had to be cut to fit the space. The leftover panel was move to the retail section and what you see in the smaller panel. Interesting indeed. At least that’s what the postal clerk and I chatted about while I was onsite.

If I’m wrong in my assessment of any of this by all means please comment below. I’d love to hear more about it.

UPDATE

I stopped in Cranford during my August 2021 road trip. The weather was great with bright blue skies. The chance to get a better exterior photograph is always a treat.

Thank you,

David W. Gates Jr.

Cranford New Jersey Post Office 07016 Cornerstone5

Cranford New Jersey Post Office 07016 Mural Plaque

Cranford New Jersey Post Office 07016 Lobby

Cranford New Jersey Post Office 07016 Mural2

Cranford New Jersey Post Office 07016 Mural3

Sources

Personal visit on 5/22/21 about 12:40 & 8/24/2021 about 4:20PM PM by David W. Gates Jr.
(affiliate link) New Jersey Post Office Mural Guidebook by David W. Gates Jr.
United States Postal Service
Monmouth County New Jersey (https://www.monmouthcountyclerk.com/archives/record-groups/other-county-records/molly-pitcher-mural-1991/). Accessed June 15, 2021.
(affiliate link) Democratic Vistas: Post Offices and Public Art in the New Deal: [Hardcover] Marlene Park, Gerald E. Markowitz
Parma Conservation (https://parmaconservation.com)

Former Clifton New Jersey Post Office

May 29, 2021 By David W. Gates Jr.

Clifton New Jersey Former Post Office 07011

ADDRESS: 1232 Main Ave., Clifton, New Jersey 07011
ARTIST: John Sitton
TITLE: Transportation
MEDIUM: Oil on canvas (mural) 6 panels
STATUS: The Clifton post office shown here is no longer an active postal facility. However, the original murals are reported to have been destroyed. (pained over) They have been replaced with modern murals as shown below. They previously resided on the walls of the rotunda which was the former lobby of the post office.
YEAR: 1935

May 18th – 23rd, of 2021 I visited New Jersey. The purpose of my trip was to personally visit the Fort Lee post office before it is lost forever.

Clifton was another stop during my visit to New Jersey. It’s always a challenge to get the lighting and timing right. I made it to Clifton very early in the morning as the sun was rising.

I knew going into Clifton that I may not be able to get inside the building. I never planned to try, I figured as long as I had the exterior building images, I could come back for the mural images later. Besides, I wasn’t entirely sure the murals still existed in the building to begin with.

Take a look at the brick work on the exterior of the rotunda! very cool indeed.

Upon further research once I returned home, I called and even the locals were unsure if the murals still existed. And this was after speaking to the current director of the recreation center. My guess is they are just covered up. But the building is closed due to COVID, so this is one stop I’ll have to revisit unless the locals can confirm the murals are still there.

UPDATE

The image gallery below shows the original murals in black and white as they originally appeared. In August of 2021, I was able to visit and photograph the interior of this building.

The original murals as no longer in place. What is not clear is if the murals have been painted over or just covered by the new panels. The recreation center was kind enough to allow me access to the building. I did not want to push my luck and ask for a ladder to inspect the also.

We are still in a pandemic so I wanted to get in and get out, with little contact or exposure with the rest of the center. I’m thankful to at least confirm the murals are not easily displayed on the wall. I think when the pandemic is over or if there are art specialist in the area it may be worth physically checking if the new or replaced art were done on canvas and can just be removed. IDK, but there you have it folks.

David W. Gates Jr.

Clifton New Jersey Former Post Office 07011 Cornerstone

Clifton New Jersey Former Post Office 07011 DG

Clifton New Jersey Former Post Office 07011 Lobby

Clifton New Jersey Former Post Office 07011 Plaque

Sources

Personal visit on 5/20/21 about 6:35 AM and 8/11/2021 about 11:28 AM by David W. Gates Jr.
(affiliate link) New Jersey Post Office Mural Guidebook by David W. Gates Jr.
Clifton Recreation Department (Clifton Recreation Department: Facility Details)
Passaic County Historical Society (Passaic County Historical Society (lambertcastle.org))
National Archives Records and Administration National Archives
NJ.com N.J. post offices showcase Depression-era public art – nj.com
(affiliate link) Democratic Vistas: Post Offices and Public Art in the New Deal: [Hardcover] Marlene Park, Gerald E. Markowitz

Caldwell New Jersey Post Office

May 28, 2021 By David W. Gates Jr.

ADDRESS: 10 Park Ave., Caldwell, New Jersey 07006
ARTIST: Brenda Putnam
TITLE: Sorting the Mail
MEDIUM: Plaster (lunette)
STATUS: The Caldwell post office is still an active, operating facility. However, the lunette has been reported to have been removed from this facility and placed in the West Caldwell facility on Clinton Road. It formally resided in the lobby on the wall above the postmaster’s door.
YEAR: 1934

I must have waited around for about 5 minutes to see if the car in front of the building was going to move. I had already been inside, so I knew the guy sitting in there was not waiting for anyone.

It was getting hot out and I didn’t feel like waiting any longer so I kindly asked the guy if he wouldn’t mind moving so I could get a good picture of the building. He was more than happy to move and help out. I’m just glad no other cars decided to park right after he moved. I got my unobstructed photo and was on my way.

After speaking with the postal clerks, I’m told there are plans to rededicate the art at the newer building, but this never happened due to COVID. As of the writing of this article, it is unsure when a rededication ceremony will take place.

This makes for another good story, can I time this ceremony with another visit to New Jersey to complete my tour? Only time will tell, and the story continues.

David W. Gates Jr.