ADDRESS: 201 South Walnut Street, Carmi, Illinois 62821
ARTIST: William Davenport Griffen
TITLE: Service to the Farmer
MEDIUM: Oil on canvas (mural)
STATUS: The Carmi 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 the wall above the postmaster’s door.
YEAR: 1939
Today’s featured post office is Carmi. Another great looking building. This one also happens to be another one of those with the Plane, Train and Ship on the exterior top facade of the building.
Photographing the full mural was a challenge. The lobby light fixture hangs down right in front, making it difficult to get an un-obstructed photograph. I did my best, what do you think? Taking the close-up’s I’m able to bring you a better idea and complete picture. How did I do?
What can you tell me about the artist? Do you know if the artist used a specific farm or family for the subject of this piece? Please share and comment below.
Thanks,
David W. Gates Jr.
Sources
- Personal visit on 5/24/2014 by David W. Gates Jr.
- Illinois Post Office Mural Guidebook
- United States Postal Service
- Democratic Vistas: Post Offices and Public Art in the New Deal
: [Hardcover] Marlene Park, Gerald E. Markowitz
- Let’s Look for Mail Delivery in Illinois Post Offices: [Soft Cover] Mary Emma Thompson, PH. D.
- Parma Conservation
