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Wilmette Illinois Post Office

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Wilmette IL Post Office 60091
Wilmette IL Post Office 60091

ADDRESS: 1241 Central Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois 60091
ARTIST: Raymond Breinin
TITLE: In The Soil is our Wealth
MEDIUM: Oil on canvas (mural)
STATUS: The Wilmette post office is still an active, operating facility, and the mural can be viewed by interested members of the pubic. It resides in a room off to the left of the public lobby. It’s viewable through the glass but difficult to see it entirely unobstructed unless in the office.
YEAR: 1938

It didn’t look like these two characters in front of the building were going to move anytime soon. They were just kind of loitering around the entrance to the building. Funny, because I’m usually waiting for cars to move. I didn’t have the nerve to ask them to move so I could get an un-obstructive picture, so I just took the photo as is.

Photographing the mural was a challenge. Some time in the history of this building , they built out the left side of the lobby and turned it into an office. The mural is now behind glass and viewable through the large window. The postmaster was kind enough to let me inside the office to get a few better pictures. I was glad I asked as the photos I have look much better without the added glass obstructing the view.

Thanks for stopping by

David W. Gates Jr.

Wilmette Illinois Post Office 60091
Wilmette Illinois Post Office 60091
Wilmette Illinois Post Office 60091
Wilmette Illinois Post Office Cornerstone
Wilmette Illinois Post Office Mural Full
Wilmette Illinois Post Office Mural Detail
Wilmette Illinois Post Office Mural Detail
Wilmette Illinois Post Office Mural Center
Wilmette Illinois Post Office Mural Artists Signature
Wilmette Illinois Post Office Mural Left Side
Wilmette Illinois Post Office Mural Right Side
Wilmette Illinois Post Office Mural Full
Wilmette Illinois Post Office Mural Full
Wilmette Illinois Post Office 60091

Update 11/17/2020

The feature image on this article always bothered me with the two individuals loitering in front of the building. Today I made another trip to this building to photograph it without cars or people. Little did I know that I’d be standing around for about a half hour before I had an unobstructed view of the building. I think it was worth it as we had nice blue skies and plenty of sunshine today in the Chicago-land area. Enjoy!

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

Sources

Glen Ellyn Illinois Downtown Post Office

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Glen Ellyn IL Downtown Post Office 60137
Glen Ellyn Illinois Downtown Post Office 60137

ADDRESS: 528 Pennsylvania Avenue, Glen Ellyn, Illinois, 60137
ARTIST: Dan Rhodes
TITLE: Settlers
MEDIUM: Oil on canvas (mural)
STATUS: The Glen Ellyn 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 postmasters door.
YEAR: 1937

WOW! Check out the building and mural? See the funny thing is, we visited the newer post office first before heading to the downtown area to visit this one. So as you can imagine the contrast between the two buildings, is really is quit amazing.

Thanks for stopping by

David W. Gates Jr.

Glen Ellyn Illinois Downtown Post Office 60137
Glen Ellyn Illinois Downtown Post Office 60137 Lobby
Glen Ellyn Illinois Downtown Post Office 60137
Glen Ellyn Illinois Downtown Post Office Mural Full
Glen Ellyn Illinois Downtown Post Office Mural Center
Glen Ellyn Illinois Downtown Post Office Landmark Plaque
Glen Ellyn Illinois Downtown Post Office Cornerstone
Glen Ellyn Illinois Downtown Post Office 60137
Glen Ellyn Illinois Downtown Post Office Mural Left Side
Glen Ellyn Illinois Downtown Post Office Mural Right Side
Glen Ellyn Illinois Downtown Post Office Mural Detail
Glen Ellyn Illinois Downtown Post Office Mural Detail
Glen Ellyn Illinois Downtown Post Office Mural Detail

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

Sources

Downers Grove Illinois Post Office

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Downers Grove IL Post Office 60515
Downers Grove IL Post Office 60515

ADDRESS: 920 Curtiss Street, Downers Grove, Illinois 60515
ARTIST: Elizabeth Tracy
TITLE: Chicago, Railroad Center of the Nation
MEDIUM: Oil on canvas (mural)
STATUS: The Downers Grove 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: 1940

Hey, have I got a treat for you today. Of course it’s Saturday and I like to highlight really special post offices on Saturday’s. I knew the Downers Grove Illinois Post Office had a mural, but I wasn’t expecting the old historic photos in the lobby or the well maintained building. But I found all of this during my visit in January of this year.

It was a bitterly cold day and there was still snow on the ground but this didn’t stop me from standing out side and waiting for a few moments so I could get photos of the exterior of the building. Luckily I’m a patient person.  What can you tell me about this wonderful post office? Have you worked here. Where did the old photos come from? Any idea who took them?

Thanks for stopping by

David W. Gates Jr.

Downers Grove Illinois Post Office Corner Stone
Downers Grove Illinois Post Office 60515
Downers Grove Illinois Post Office 60515
Downers Grove Illinois Post Office 60515
Downers Grove Illinois Post Office Lobby Historic Photo
Downers Grove Illinois Post Office Lobby Historic Photo
Downers Grove Illinois Post Office Lobby Historic Photo
Downers Grove Illinois Post Office Lobby History
Downers Grove Illinois Post Office Lobby
Downers Grove Illinois Post Office Mural Plaque
Downers Grove Illinois Post Office Mural Right Side
Downers Grove Illinois Post Office Mural Left Side
Downers Grove Illinois Post Office Mural Full
Downers Grove Illinois Post Office Mural Center
Downers Grove Illinois Post Office Mural Detail
Downers Grove Illinois Post Office Mural Detail
Downers Grove Illinois Post Office Mural Detail
Downers Grove Illinois Post Office Mural Detail
Downers Grove Illinois Post Office 60515

UPDATE – 11/16/20

Made another trip to the Downers Grove building to get better photographs of the exterior of the building. When I initially visited in winter, there was snow on the ground and the images were not that great.

As I setup to write the Illinois Guidebook, I’m wanting better images to include in the book, thus the reason for making another trip. Enjoy!

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

Sources