ADDRESS: 2557 Old Federal Rd, Shorter, AL 36075
Thanks Doug
Sources
- Personal visit by Doug
- United States Postal Service
Shorter Alabama Post Office – Guest
Blog
Orleans Indiana Post Office
ADDRESS: 201 W Washington St, Orleans, Indiana 47452
Orleans was another stop during my September 2021 road trip. I’m loving the blue skies.
David W. Gates Jr.
Sources
- Personal visit on 9/26/21 about 6:31 PM by David W. Gates Jr.
- United States Postal Service
Jasper Indiana Post Office
ADDRESS: 206 E 6th St, Jasper, Indiana 47546
ARTIST: Jessie Hull Mayer
TITLE: Indiana Farming Scene
MEDIUM: Oil on canvas (mural)
STATUS: The Jasper post office is still an active, operating facility, and the mural can be viewed by interested members of the public. It resides in the lobby on a wall above the postmaster’s door.
YEAR: 1939
Not too long ago, I wrote about the Crown Point Indiana post office and how I arrived very early in the morning. The sun was just rising and my photos turned out dark.
Well today I’m writing about the other end of the day. The sun had already set, but I arrived in Jasper and wanted my exterior photographs. That is what you see in this article. It was late and I was exhausted from a full day of driving around Indiana. Jasper was my final stop for the day. I headed home after this one during my September 26, 2021 road trip.
I’m delighted the lobby was open and I was also able to photograph and enjoy their wonderful mural.
David W. Gates Jr.
Sources
- Personal visit on 9/26/21 about 8:04 PM & 10/17/2021 at 11:15 AM by David W. Gates Jr.
- Indiana Post Office Mural Guidebook by David W. Gates Jr.
- (affiliate link) Democratic Vistas: Post Offices and Public Art in the New Deal
: [Hardcover] Marlene Park, Gerald E. Markowitz
- United States Postal Service
- (affiliate link) A Simple and Vital Design: The Story of the Indiana Post Office Murals
: John C. Carlisle
Jasper IN Post Office 47546
Jasper IN Post Office 47546
Jasper IN Post Office 47546
Lamont Florida Post Office – Guest
ADDRESS: 6244 E Capps Hwy, Lamont, FL 32336
Thanks Doug
Sources
- Personal visit by Doug
- United States Postal Service
Grand Ridge Florida Post Office – Guest
ADDRESS: 2064 Porter Ave, Grand Ridge, FL 32442
Solid brick looking post office.
Sources
- Personal visit by Doug
- United States Postal Service
High Springs Florida Post Office – Guest
ADDRESS: 23687 NW 188th Ave, High Springs, FL 32643
Thanks Doug
Sources
- Personal visit by Doug
- United States Postal Service
Fowler Indiana Post Office
ADDRESS: 114 S Madison Ave, Fowler, Indiana 47944
ARTIST: Nat Werner
TITLE: Resting during Prairie Plowing
MEDIUM: Cast stone (relief)
STATUS: The Fowler post office is still an active, operating facility, and the relief can be viewed by interested members of the public. It resides in the lobby on a wall above the postmaster’s door.
YEAR: 1940
To be honest, I had no idea the lobby was going to be open when I arrived in Fowler. My goal was to get a good photo of the exterior of the building and I achieved that during this trip on the 26th of September. However, since the lobby was also open, I was able to photograph the stone relief artwork.
Sadly, the ivy on the front facade of the building covers up the cornerstone. It was tempting to peel it away from the building, but I refrained form doing this. I’m guessing a winter visit may be in order to get the photograph of this one. IDK.
David W. Gates Jr.
Sources
- Personal visit on 9/26/21 about 7:42 AM and 06/27/2023 about 10:58 AM by David W. Gates Jr., Post Office Fans
- Indiana Post Office Mural Guidebook by David W. Gates Jr.
- (affiliate link) Democratic Vistas: Post Offices and Public Art in the New Deal
- United States Postal Service
Crown Point Indiana Post Office
ADDRESS: 128 S., East St., Crown Point, Indiana 46307
ARTIST: George Melville Smith
TITLE: From Such Beginnings Sprang the County of Lake
MEDIUM: Oil on canvas (mural)
STATUS: The Crown Point post office is still an active operating facility, and the mural can be viewed by interested memebers of the pubic. It resides in the lobby on a wall above the former postmaster’s door.
YEAR: 1938
Initially, I wasn’t planning on stopping at the Crown Point building. However, by the time I got here on a Sunday Morning at 6:11AM, the sun was just starting to rise. In addition when I checked the lobby doors, they were open. So low and behold, I spend a good amount of time here and photograph the mural, by the time I was ready to leave, I was able to get a few exterior photos of the outside. They are dark, but I also kind of like the mysterious look and feel to them.
Note to self: that cornerstone was hard to get. I had to hold back the branches using one hand and then try to photograph it with my other hands. When you revisit this one bring another set of hands or the kid to help out.
David W. Gates Jr.
Sources
- Personal visit on 9/26/21 about 6:10 AM and 12/12/2021 at 4:33 PM and 3/02/2022 at 4:36 PM and 06/27/2023 about 11:28 AM by David W. Gates Jr.
- Indiana Post Office Mural Guidebook by David W. Gates Jr.
- Chicago Tribune, New Deal-era mural restored for Park Ridge Library – Park Ridge Herald-Advocate (chicagotribune.com)
- Smithsonian National Postal Museum, Indians Cede the Land | National Postal Museum (si.edu)
- United States Postal Service
- Indiana Landmarks, New Deal Left Its Stamp on Local Post Offices – Indiana Landmarks
- (affiliate link) Democratic Vistas: Post Offices and Public Art in the New Deal
- (affiliate link) A Simple and Vital Design: The Story of the Indiana Post Office Murals
Brazil Indiana Former Post Office
ADDRESS: 100 E National Ave, Brazil, IN 47834
What a magnificent building. I wasn’t planning on stopping at this one, but when I saw this driving by I couldn’t pass up the opportunity. The weather was great and the lighting on the building was brilliant.
My apologies to the motorist who patiently waited while I stood in the middle of the street to get the photos and videos, it was definitely worth it.
The only thing that could have made this stop better is if I had visited when the museum was open. But it was a Sunday and I would have been sucked in and may have killed a few hours inside. So maybe that is a good thing they were closed.
David W. Gates Jr.
Sources
- Personal visit on 9/26/21 about 12:55 PM by David, Post Office Fans
- Clay County Historical Society http://www.claycountyhistoricalsocietyin.org/
- National Register of Historic Places. National Register of Historic Places (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)
Wilmington Delaware Former Post Office
ADDRESS: 1100 N., Market St., Suite 1300, Wilmington, Delaware 19801
ARTIST: Albert Pels
TITLE: Landing of Swedens at The Rocks in Wilmington
MEDIUM: Oil and tempera (mural)
STATUS: The former Wilmington Delaware post office is no longer an active, operating facility. However, the mural can usually be viewed by interested members of the public during business hours. One mural resides east wall of the lobby and the other resides on the west wall of the lobby.
YEAR: 1938
ARTIST: Herman Zimmerman
TITLE: Chemistry and Industry, and Chemistry and Agriculture
MEDIUM: Oil on canvas (mural)
STATUS: The former Wilmington Delaware post office is no longer an active, operating facility. However, the mural can usually be viewed by interested members of the public during business hours. One mural resides east wall of the lobby and the other resides on the west wall of the lobby.
YEAR: 1938
This was the very last visit during my trip in August of 2021. It was getting late on Saturday and I knew the building was going to closed, but I had imagined I might be able to get some good exterior photos during non-business hours.
Sadly, even on Saturday evening there were cars in front of the building. I also had no idea if and when they would move. I was able to get some angle shots, the plaque, the cornerstone so that was nice.
While I was outside, a car pulled up and a lady stood at the front door. From what I could gather she was delivering food for someone. Eventually the front doors, opened and the lady walked in. Since the doors were timed, I followed the lady in. I’m not sure I was suppose to do that but, I figured that was my chance to get inside the building.
Well, the security guard was not amused and quickly inquired as to my reason for being there. I pleaded my case to and explained I was from out of town and I was interested in photographing the murals. When I walked in the building I could bitterly see them – one on either side of the large lobby.
I was denied several times, but kept pushing, with my very last case, I asked if I could photograph them from where I was standing and that I didn’t need to be close. (I wanted to get something). He reluctantly agreed and allowed me to photograph one shot of each mural from where I was standing.
I had to zoom in all the way with my phone to get the two images you see below. The lights in the lobby were turned off so even if I were to get closer to the murals, I knew they would be dark. So I was pretty satisfied with the two images I did manage to get.
This confirms the murals are still in the building, in their original location. That little bit pleased me enough. Besides I was exhausted and still needed to get to Columbia, MD for the night.
Successful trip!
David W. Gates Jr.
Sources
- Personal visit on 8/14/21 about 5:20 PM by David W. Gates Jr.
- (affiliate link) Democratic Vistas: Post Offices and Public Art in the New Deal
- Wilmington Trust (https://www.wilmingtontrust.com/)
- WOLFS Gallery: Albert Pels | Artists | WOLFS Fine Paintings and Sculpture (wolfsgallery.com)
- Ask Art: Albert Pels – Biography (askart.com)