Former post office buildings or locations.

Former Newport Tennessee Post Office

February 21, 2015 By David W. Gates Jr.

ADDRESS: 219 E. Broadway Street, Newport, Tennessee, 37821
ARTIST: Minna Citron
TITLE: TVA Power
MEDIUM: Oil on canvas (mural)
STATUS: The murals no longer resides in the original building shown here. They were moved to the Newport Community Center on Cosby Highway. The murals are located in the second floor museum. They are only viewable during very limited volunteer hours.
YEAR: 1940

After I finished my visit at the newer post office I headed over to the former Newport building. Anyone familiar with the older buildings knows its easy to spot. It’s the classic square boxy shape. Has two lamps on either side of the staircase and a half circle above the door. But you won’t find the mural here. Nope! according to my research it has been moved to Newport Community Center. Inside the community center is the Cocke County Museum where the mural resides.

By the time we had figured this out we were not able to visit the museum. Further more, I’ve also discovered the museum is only open one day a week and for limited hours. Go figure! How does that jive with making the art accessible? Anyway, another time and another place, I’ll be back to hopefully seen this one. To be honest I was reluctant to post this one since I didn’t have the artwork to include in this article. But I when I first started this blog I was more concerned with getting a good exterior picture of the building. I’ve achieved that so I decided to post this article. Hopefully, I have it before this article goes live. Yes, I was able to get the mural photos before this article posted. Please see the update below.

When I was talking to the man at the newer building he mentioned he knew the owner of the building. It also occurred to me that the post office may have vacated and sold this building many years ago. Here is why, at some point federal law required all buildings to be ADA compliant. Many of these older buildings had to be retrofitted with ramps in front of the buildings to accommodate persons with disabilities. This building does not have a ramp which lead me to believe it may have been sold prior the law being enforced for older buildings.

What can you tell me about it? Are my assumptions correct? Now that I think about it maybe there is a ramp in the back of the building. I don’t recall seeing one but you never know. Please comment below if you know more about this building.

Former Newport Tennessee Post Office 37821

Former Newport Tennessee Post Office 37821 Cornerstone

UPDATE January 2015

I found the murals, scheduled a visit, and photographed them. This was actually in December but I’m just getting around to updating this post in January. It’s actually 4 separate panels I’ve labeled each panel 1, panel 2, panel 3 etc. The biggest question I have for everyone now is this: Where inside the building where the murals installed? See I can tell by panel 1 that this was above the postmasters office door as it has the classic missing square at the bottom of the mural. This is because the mural came down past the door on either side.

So if that is the case which walls were the other 3 panels installed? I like to see picture of when this building was a post office and when the art was installed. Anyone out there have such images? Please comment and share below.

The mural is no longer at the building on Broadway. It has been moved to the Newport community center. There is a small museum on the second floor. I scheduled an appointment and a volunteer meet me there. Special thanks to Jane and the museum for taking time out your day.

Thanks,

David W. Gates Jr.

Former Newport Tennessee Post Office Mural 37821

Former Newport Tennessee Post Office Mural 37821 Full

Former Newport Tennessee Post Office Mural 37821 Panel

Sources

Personal visit on 9/04/2014 by David W. Gates Jr.
Tennessee Post Office Murals by David W. Gates Jr.
Tennessee 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): Tennessee Post Office Murals: Howard Hull
The Newport Main Talk (https://www.newportplaintalk.com/news/article_574e3e8e-f22e-11e3-89ad-001a4bcf887a.html?mode=image&photo=0)

Former Charleston Illinois Post Office

January 10, 2015 By David W. Gates Jr.

ADDRESS: 320 Sixth St., Charleston, Illinois 61920

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to visit your local post office and find out it’s a pet store? Welcome to Charleston, Illinois. I visited in October for a book signing event at the local book store. It was a very long drive on a Saturday with an infant, but we made it and I was able to get my books signed. I was also told there is a nice historic old post office building in Charleston so naturally I had to find it. The folks at the book store also mentioned it had been converted to a pet store. Older buildings like this are pretty easy to spot but the new owners also had a nice big sign indicating they are now open for business. See images below.

Since I was with the family, I needed to get my photos and get moving. It baffles me why I never stepped inside to look around. I guess I knew this particular building didn’t have a mural or artwork so I guess I must have justified this in my head and moved quickly back to the car so we could get on the road. These are just some of the stories from my adventures taking pictures. It’s hard to slow down sometimes and just enjoy the process when you are trying to make as many stops and you can.

We were a long way from home, but sometimes that’s what it takes. During this visit was I also able to get a few other nice older buildings. Stay tuned for those.

Do you remember when this building was the old post office? Maybe you were there for the dedication back in 1917? What do you remember? Do you have pictures or newspaper articles from this time? Please comment and share below.

Thanks,

David W. Gates Jr.

Sources

Personal visit on 10/18/2014 by David W. Gates Jr.
Fetchers Pet Store

Former La Follette Tennessee Post Office

December 6, 2014 By David W. Gates Jr.

ADDRESS: 119 S. Tennessee Ave., La Follette, Tennessee 37766
ARTIST: Dahlov Ipcar
TITLE: On the Shores of the Lake
MEDIUM: Oil on canvas (mural)
STATUS: The mural no longer reside in the original building shown here. It was moved to the newer post office building on Central Ave. The mural is on display in the lobby and is accessible to members of the public during business hours.
YEAR: 1939

For mural information please see our article of the current La Follette, Tennessee Post Office.

Today’s featured post office is the classic WPA error building from La Follette, Tennessee. What a great looking building and facade. If you found this article because you were hoping to find out more about the mural. I’m sorry to say it is no longer here. However, the good news is that you can still see it at the newer building on Central Ave.

Now back to this building, so it is no longer the post office and after some basic research appears to have been sold. After reading up I also discovered it sold for a relatively inexpensive price. You can read more about this by following the resource links below.

Post Office: Senator J. Will Taylor successfully lobbied funds from the “New Deal” program to construct a post office within LaFollette. It was constructed and built in 1937. This office served the city of LaFollette until the early 1990’s. Within the Historical Society Museum there is a thorough pictorial documentation showing construction through- out 1937 and 1938.

I want to hear from you, what do you remember about this building? Are you a postal working who spent years working here? What do you remember about the mural in the lobby? Did you ever meet the artist or the descendants of the artists? Do you have old newspaper articles of the dedication ceremony? I’d love to hear from you. Please comment below.

Thanks,

David W. Gates Jr.