Former post office buildings or locations.

Danville Indiana Former Post Office

October 21, 2021 By David W. Gates Jr.

ADDRESS: 101 W. Marion St., Danville, Indiana 46122
ARTIST: Gail Wycoff Martin
TITLE: Filling the Water Jugs — Haymaking Time
MEDIUM: Oil on canvas (mural)
STATUS: The Danville post office is no longer an active, operating postal facility. Interested members of the public should contact the Hendricks County Probation for hours and availability. The mural resides in the lobby on a wall above the former postmaster’s door.
YEAR: 1939

My second road trip to Indiana involved stopping at the former Danville building. It was a Sunday so I had no hopes of getting inside the building. My research revealed the mural is still in the building.

I arrived early in the morning and the sun was just rising off to the left side of the building. I think the afternoon would be the best time to photograph this one when I return. The images here are darker then I would like.

David W. Gates Jr.

Danville IN Former Post Office 46122 Cornerstone

Danville IN Former Post Office 46122 Mural Left

Danville IN Former Post Office 46122 Mural Center

Danville IN Former Post Office 46122 Train

Danville IN Former Post Office 46122 Ship

Danville IN Former Post Office 46122 Plane

Danville IN Former Post Office 46122 Mural Right

Danville IN Former Post Office 46122 Mural Signature

Danville IN Former Post Office 46122 Mural

Danville IN Former Post Office 46122 Lobby

Sources

Personal visit on 10/17/21 about 7:44 AM and 3/9/22 at 2:56 PM and 06/27/2023 about 7:51 PM by David W. Gates Jr.
Indiana Post Office Mural Guidebook by David W. Gates Jr.
The Republican Newspaper: New Deal Mural Remains Example of Public Art. January 4, 2023, accessed January 31, 2023.
(affiliate link) Democratic Vistas: Post Offices and Public Art in the New Deal: [Hardcover] Marlene Park, Gerald E. Markowitz
United States Postal Service
(affiliate link) A Simple and Vital Design: The Story of the Indiana Post Office Murals: John C. Carlisle

Brazil Indiana Former Post Office

October 6, 2021 By David W. Gates Jr.

ADDRESS: 100 E National Ave, Brazil, IN 47834

What a magnificent building. I wasn’t planning on stopping at this one, but when I saw this driving by I couldn’t pass up the opportunity. The weather was great and the lighting on the building was brilliant.

My apologies to the motorist who patiently waited while I stood in the middle of the street to get the photos and videos, it was definitely worth it.

The only thing that could have made this stop better is if I had visited when the museum was open. But it was a Sunday and I would have been sucked in and may have killed a few hours inside. So maybe that is a good thing they were closed.

David W. Gates Jr.

Brazil IN Former Post Office 47834 Cornerstone

Brazil IN Former Post Office 47834 Historical Plaque

Sources

Personal visit on 9/26/21 about 12:55 PM by David, Post Office Fans
Clay County Historical Society http://www.claycountyhistoricalsocietyin.org/
National Register of Historic Places. National Register of Historic Places (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)

Wilmington Delaware Former Post Office

October 5, 2021 By David W. Gates Jr.

ADDRESS: 1100 N., Market St., Suite 1300, Wilmington, Delaware 19801
ARTIST: Albert Pels
TITLE: Landing of Swedens at The Rocks in Wilmington
MEDIUM: Oil and tempera (mural)
STATUS: The former Wilmington Delaware post office is no longer an active, operating facility. However, the mural can usually be viewed by interested members of the public during business hours. One mural resides east wall of the lobby and the other resides on the west wall of the lobby.
YEAR: 1938

ARTIST: Herman Zimmerman
TITLE: Chemistry and Industry, and Chemistry and Agriculture
MEDIUM: Oil on canvas (mural)
STATUS: The former Wilmington Delaware post office is no longer an active, operating facility. However, the mural can usually be viewed by interested members of the public during business hours. One mural resides east wall of the lobby and the other resides on the west wall of the lobby.
YEAR: 1938

This was the very last visit during my trip in August of 2021. It was getting late on Saturday and I knew the building was going to closed, but I had imagined I might be able to get some good exterior photos during non-business hours.

Sadly, even on Saturday evening there were cars in front of the building. I also had no idea if and when they would move. I was able to get some angle shots, the plaque, the cornerstone so that was nice.

While I was outside, a car pulled up and a lady stood at the front door. From what I could gather she was delivering food for someone. Eventually the front doors, opened and the lady walked in. Since the doors were timed, I followed the lady in. I’m not sure I was suppose to do that but, I figured that was my chance to get inside the building.

Well, the security guard was not amused and quickly inquired as to my reason for being there. I pleaded my case to and explained I was from out of town and I was interested in photographing the murals. When I walked in the building I could bitterly see them – one on either side of the large lobby.

I was denied several times, but kept pushing, with my very last case, I asked if I could photograph them from where I was standing and that I didn’t need to be close. (I wanted to get something). He reluctantly agreed and allowed me to photograph one shot of each mural from where I was standing.

I had to zoom in all the way with my phone to get the two images you see below. The lights in the lobby were turned off so even if I were to get closer to the murals, I knew they would be dark. So I was pretty satisfied with the two images I did manage to get.

This confirms the murals are still in the building, in their original location. That little bit pleased me enough. Besides I was exhausted and still needed to get to Columbia, MD for the night.

Successful trip!

David W. Gates Jr.