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Kankakee Illinois Post Office

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Kankakee IL Post Office 60901
Kankakee IL Post Office 60901

ADDRESS: 475 East Court Street, Kankakee, Illinois, 60901
ARTIST: Edouard Chassaing
TITLE: Farming
MEDIUM: Wood (carvings)
STATUS: The Kankakee post office is still an active, operating facility and the carvings can be viewed by interested members of the public. They reside in the lobby on the wall above the postmasters door.
YEAR: 1943

The Kankakee, Illinois post office is a large building. When I’m driving around photographing post offices, most often the buildings are the small square one’s you see below in related post. So naturally it was a big surprised when I arrived in Kankakee to find such a large building.

Not one, not two but three wood carvings grace the lobby in Kankakee. Although the title of the wood carving is “Farming” it encompass the three separate pieces you see below.

I found it really difficult to photograph and get good quality images. The lobby lights hang low and get in the way of shooting directly in front of the entire wall. I did my best, and took over 40 photos. How did I do? What do you think? Do you like the wood carvings? Are you more of a mural person or plaster cast artwork fan? Please comment and share below.

Thanks,

David W. Gates Jr.

Kankakee Illinois Post Office 60901
Kankakee Illinois Post Office 60901
Kankakee Illinois Post Office 60901
Kankakee Illinois Post Office 60901
Kankakee Illinois Post Office 60901 Cornerstone
Kankakee Illinois Post Office Wood Carving 60901 Full
Kankakee Illinois Post Office Wood Carving 60901 Center
Kankakee Illinois Post Office Wood Carving 60901 Left Side
Kankakee Illinois Post Office Wood Carving 60901 Right Side
Kankakee Illinois Post Office Wood Carving 60901 Detail
Kankakee Illinois Post Office Wood Carving 60901 Detail
Kankakee Illinois Post Office Wood Carving 60901 Detail
Kankakee Illinois Post Office Wood Carving 60901 Detail
Kankakee Illinois Post Office Wood Carving 60901 Detail
Kankakee Illinois Post Office Wood Carving 60901 Detail
Kankakee Illinois Post Office Wood Carving 60901 Detail
Kankakee Illinois Post Office Wood Carving 60901 Detail
Kankakee Illinois Post Office Wood Carving 60901 Detail
Kankakee Illinois Post Office Wood Carving 60901 Full

“Used with the permission of the United States Postal Service®. All rights reserved.”

Sources

Marseilles Illinois Post Office

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Marseilles IL Post Office 61341
Marseilles IL Post Office 61341

ADDRESS: 100 Washington Street, Marseilles, Illinois 61341
ARTIST: Avery Fischer Johnson
TITLE: Industrial Marseilles
MEDIUM: Oil on canvas (mural)
STATUS: The Marseilles 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: 1938

Often times when I visit and inquire about the mural or art the folks working at the counter are clueless. My visit to Marseilles, Illinois was an exception. I met a wonderful lady who was very interested in their mural and was able to provide me with a bunch of details about it. Now that’s awesome I said to myself. Here are a few of details I remember from this conservation.

The mural is called “Industrial Marseilles”, It was meant to represent the industries at the time when it was painted around 1938. The lady at the counter also mentioned that all but one of the buildings have disappeared from the Marseilles landscape. The only one that remains today is the large brick building in the center for the painting. Now that is information I wouldn’t have gotten if I had not taken the time to ask . If I also remember correctly the lady was also able to recall the date and artist of the painting. She was aware that it was commissioned during the depression.

It was really a delight to hear someone speak of it and share in the history of the mural. It’s not often that I find USPS employees interested in the art on the wall and this was a real treat to find. Your name escapes me today but rest assured you made my day and my visit enjoyable to Marseilles.

Thanks,

David W. Gates Jr.

Marseilles Illinois Post Office 61341
Marseilles Illinois Post Office 61341
Marseilles Illinois Post Office 61341
Marseilles Illinois Post Office 61341
Marseilles Illinois Post Office 61341
Marseilles Illinois Post Office 61341 Corner Stone
Marseilles Illinois Post Office Mural 61341 Detail
Marseilles Illinois Post Office Mural 61341 Detail
Marseilles Illinois Post Office Mural 61341 Detail
Marseilles Illinois Post Office Mural 61341 Center
Marseilles Illinois Post Office Mural 61341 Full
Marseilles Illinois Post Office Mural 61341 Detail
Marseilles Illinois Post Office Mural 61341 Detail
Marseilles Illinois Post Office Mural 61341 Detail
Marseilles Illinois Post Office Mural 61341 Signature
Marseilles Illinois Post Office Mural 61341 Full

“Used with the permission of the United States Postal Service®. All rights reserved.”

Sources

Sandwich Illinois Post Office

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Sandwich IL Post Office 60548
Sandwich IL Post Office 60548

ADDRESS: 22 North Eddy Street, Sandwich, Illinois, 60548
ARTIST: Marshall Maynard Fredericks
TITLE: The Family
MEDIUM: Terra-cotta (relief)
STATUS: The Sandwich 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 the wall above the postmaster’s door.
YEAR: 1941

So I decided to visit in July and I guess the town was having their 4th of July parade. Needless to say it was very congested in and around the post office during my visit. I didn’t even try to stick around for an un-obstructed photo of the building. I knew it was going to be next to impossible because of the parade. The photos I did get are shown below. Luckily, it’s not terribly far and I imagine I’ll be back in the future to get better exterior photos.

I’m trying to remember who mentioned the history of this one. Evidently, I must have spoken to one of the postal employees because I learned that this one was painted over when the lobby was remodeled. At least that his the story I heard. This individual also mentioned at one point the original terra-cotta relief was painted in color. The horse was painted brown, the pigs were pink and sheet had black noses painted eyes etc.

So I’m asking myself, who would have ordered the painters to just paint over the art and just turn the walls completely white? Further more what painter must have been desperate or followed those orders and painted over the entire piece? I’m shocked and bit surprised. It also appears this might have been done many years ago judging by how dusty or dirty the top of the piece is. I’m not angry as much as I’m just disappointed. When I visit these buildings my wish is to see they as they were when initially installed. So I hope I’m not sending the wrong message of being mad, just disappointed.

Anyway, enough venting for now. Does anyone out there have pictures of the original before it was painted over? Have you seen this before it was painted all white? Please comment below. I’d love to hear from you.

Thanks,

David W. Gates Jr.

Sandwich Illinois Post Office 60548
Sandwich Illinois Post Office 60548
Sandwich Illinois Post Office 60548 Corner Stone
Sandwich Illinois Post Office 60548
Sandwich Illinois Post Office 60548
Sandwich Illinois Post Office 60548
Sandwich Illinois Post Office Art 60548 Detail
Sandwich Illinois Post Office Art 60548 Detail
Sandwich Illinois Post Office Art 60548 Detail
Sandwich Illinois Post Office Art 60548 Full
Sandwich Illinois Post Office Art 60548 Detail
Sandwich Illinois Post Office Art 60548 Detail
Sandwich Illinois Post Office Art 60548 Detail
Sandwich Illinois Post Office Art 60548 Detail
Sandwich Illinois Post Office Art 60548 Full
Sandwich Illinois Post Office Art 60548 Full
Sandwich Illinois Post Office Art 60548 Full
Sandwich Illinois Post Office 60548
Sandwich Illinois Post Office 60548

“Used with the permission of the United States Postal Service®. All rights reserved.”

Sources