Artist

Batesville Indiana Post Office

November 13, 2021 By David W. Gates Jr.

ADDRESS: 3 W George St, Batesville, Indiana 47006
ARTIST: Orville Carroll
TITLE: Rebuilding the Industrial Foundations of Batesville
MEDIUM: Tempera (mural)
STATUS: The Batesville 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: 1938

Batesville was another stop during a recent road trip. It is November and the days are getting shorting and the lighting is a bit tricky. For Batesville the sun was off to the left side behind the building. This made for a darker front for my photographs.

Note to self, I think I want very early photos or just wait until the summer and visit again. But until then, at least the lobby was open on a Sunday and I was able to view this beautiful mural by Orville Carroll.

David W. Gates Jr.

Batesville IN Post Office 47006 Mural Center

Batesville IN Post Office 47006 Cornerstone

Batesville IN Post Office 47006 Mural Detail

Batesville IN Post Office 47006 Mural Left

Batesville IN Post Office 47006 Mural Right

Sources

Personal visit on 11/7/21 about 10:15 AM and 06/30/2023 about 11:02 AM by David W. Gates Jr.
Indiana Post Office Mural Guidebook by David W. Gates Jr.
United States Postal Service
(affiliate link) Democratic Vistas: Post Offices and Public Art in the New Deal: [Hardcover] Marlene Park, Gerald E. Markowitz
(affiliate link): A Simple and Vital Design: The Story of the Indiana Post Office Murals: John C. Carlisle

Knightstown Indiana Post Office

November 12, 2021 By David W. Gates Jr.

ADDRESS: 37 N Jefferson St, Knightstown, Indiana 46148
ARTIST: Raymond L Morris
TITLE: The Evening Mail
MEDIUM: Oil on canvas (mural)
STATUS: The Knightstown 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: 1937

The reason I prefer to personally visit sites is to see the entire setting for myself. Take this one for instance. I had no idea it was behind glass and even if someone told me I wouldn’t quit get the entire feeling of time and place.

I’m a bit disappointed it is covered as that makes for darker images with glare, but in this case that is what you get. I’m wondering what the reason was for covering it up. I’m think it could be protected with modern chemicals. IDK let me know in the comments below.

David W. Gates Jr.

Knightstown IN Post Office 46148 Mural Signature

Knightstown IN Post Office 46148 Mural Left

Knightstown IN Post Office 46148 Mural Center

Knightstown IN Post Office 46148 Cornerstone

Knightstown IN Post Office 46148 Mural Detail

Sources

Personal visit on 11/7/21 about 3:20 PM by David W. Gates Jr.
Indiana Post Office Mural Guidebook by David W. Gates Jr.
United States Postal Service
(affiliate link) Democratic Vistas: Post Offices and Public Art in the New Deal: [Hardcover] Marlene Park, Gerald E. Markowitz
(affiliate link): A Simple and Vital Design: The Story of the Indiana Post Office Murals: John C. Carlisle

Pendleton Indiana Post Office

November 11, 2021 By David W. Gates Jr.

ADDRESS: 137 W State St, Pendleton, Indiana 46064
ARTIST: William Kaeser
TITLE: Loggers
MEDIUM: Oil on canvas (mural)
STATUS: The Pendleton 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: 1941

The historical plaque is what stood out for me when I visited Pendleton. It was getting late and it wasn’t even 5:00 PM. The days are getting shorter.

This is a well maintained building, which also has a nice historical picture of the building in the lobby. There are two medallions on the wall in the lobby.

David W. Gates Jr.