Post offices with artwork.

Nappanee Indiana Post Office

December 19, 2021 By David W. Gates Jr.

ADDRESS: 202 E., Market St., Nappanee, Indiana 46550
ARTIST: Grant Wright Christian
TITLE: Waiting for the Mail
MEDIUM: Oil on canvas (mural)
STATUS: The Nappanee 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: 1935

What a great looking building. The more post offices I visit the more little elements I notice. The couple and fence on the top of the Nappanee building is a perfect example. Most of the roofs are plain or have simple designs. Both items along with the decorative facia and you have a great looking building.

The lobby is closed on Sunday’s I’ll have to come to enjoy the mural.

Update

Luckily, I was able to re-visit this one March 2, 2022 for mural images.

David W. Gates Jr.

Nappanee IN Post Office 46550 Cornerstone

Nappanee IN Post Office 46550 Mural Center

Nappanee IN Post Office 46550 Mural Left

Nappanee IN Post Office 46550 Mural Right

Nappanee IN Post Office 46550 Mural Signature

Sources

Personal visit on 12/12/21 about 9:26 AM & 03/02/2022 at 1:18 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
Parma Conservation (https://parmaconservation.com)

Angola Indiana Former Post Office

December 17, 2021 By David W. Gates Jr.

ADDRESS: 200 E., Maumee St. Angola, Indiana, 46703
ARTIST: Charles Campbell
TITLE: Hoosier Farm
MEDIUM: Oil on canvas (mural)
STATUS: The Angola post office was razed years ago. However, the mural was moved to the Steuben Community Center on Wayne Street. It can be viewed by interested members of the public during business hours. It resides on the second floor of the building.
YEAR: 1935

This one has also vexed me for some time. I’ve driven through Angola many times on our way out to visit the in-laws in Ohio. Every time I drive through I look around for the old building.

When I did some initial research I never found anything solid. Fast forward to this year, and I’ve reached out to the the local library and was delighted when they returned with the following historical photos of the building. They are old and I believe they are copies of the original black and white completion photos required of the contractor to receive final payment.

The tricky part was trying to figure out the physical address and location. I used google maps to line up this historical photos with the current view in Angola. I think I’ve narrowed it down to the approximate location where the photographer stood and what google maps is showing me.

I’m tagging this article with the Help category as I’d love to see other historical images of this building if you or any loved ones have any around, I’d love to get a better photo or different photos of the building and bonus if you have images of the mural in it’s original location. That would be cool to see.

David W. Gates Jr.

Sources

Personal Visit to the Steuben County Community Center on 03/02/2022 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
(affiliate link): A Simple and Vital Design: The Story of the Indiana Post Office Murals: John C. Carlisle
Visit Steuben County, Public Art in Angola: Public Art in Angola- Steuben County Tourism Bureau (visitsteubencounty.com)
Synopsis of proposals for the construction of the post office at Angola, Indiana 1934

Culver Indiana Post Office

December 14, 2021 By David W. Gates Jr.

ADDRESS: 115 W., Jefferson St., Culver, Indiana 46511
ARTIST: Jessie Hull Mayer
TITLE: The Arrival of the Mail in Culver
MEDIUM: Oil on canvas (mural)
STATUS: The Culver 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: 1935

Culver was my second stop during my December 12, 2021 road trip. I got early about 3:00 AM and drove to Culver. Knox was my first stop and Culver was my second. The sun was just rising and I was able to get decent exterior photographs. The lobby was closed so I’ll have to come back to see the mural.

David W. Gates Jr.