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Former post office buildings or locations.

Former Janesville Wisconsin Post Office

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Former Janesville WI Post Office 53545
Former Janesville WI Post Office 53545

ADDRESS: 210 Dodge St., Janesville, Wisconsin, 53545
ARTIS: Boris Gilbertson
TITLE: Wild Ducks
MEDIUM: Aluminum (stamped) 4 individual panels
STATUS:  The aluminum panels made for Janesville by Gilbertson are now in the newer post office where they are only available for viewing during business hours. The lobby has a locked retail section where the panels are located.
YEAR: 1940

Well there use to be artwork here. But the United States Post Office out-grew this building and moved to a new location on Milton Ave. They took the 4 aluminum panels with them to the newer building on Milton. I had to find the original building and that was exactly what I ended up doing one weekend in August of 2013. I met two friendly ladies working at the Arrowhead Library System. They informed me the panels were moved to the newer bundling on Milton Ave.

I was slightly confused because I had visited this one before but never noticed the panels. Confused I ended up visiting again and as it turns out the panels are inside of the retail counter area. When I initially visited, I never checked the inside of the retail section because the light was off and it was dark in that part of the building. I’ve outlined this visit on the active Janesville Wisconsin Post Office article.

What a great building, I love the look and lights along the steps. The corner-stone is in the lower right corner of the building and of course like a curious neighbor, I snooped around the bushes to get the photographs you see below. I wasn’t the only one looking for a post office the day I visited. I think because the building still has the letters United States Post Office on the exterior of the building people still stop in looking to mail stuff. When I was visiting there must have been 3 or 4 people who walked into to the building in the 10 or 20 minutes I was there.

So if the postal service ever reads this article. Would it be possible to at least place a mailbox out front? Maybe this would be confusing to people, but just a thought.

Thanks to the Arrowhead Library System Staff, working the day I visited. I appreciated your time and chatting with you both.

12/15/2020 Update

I’m told the Arrowhead Library System no longer operates out of this building. It appears vacant. Does anyone else have the current scope on this beautiful building?

David W. Gates Jr.

Former Janesville Wisconsin Post Office 53545
Former Janesville Wisconsin Post Office 53545
Former Janesville Wisconsin Post Office 53545
Former Janesville Wisconsin Post Office 53545
Former Janesville Wisconsin Post Office 53545
Former Janesville Wisconsin Post Office 53545
Former Janesville Wisconsin Post Office 53545
Former Janesville Wisconsin Post Office 53545 Corner Stone
Former Janesville Wisconsin Post Office 53545 Cornerstone
Former Janesville Wisconsin Post Office 53545 Cornerstone

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

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Former Hudson Wisconsin Post Office

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Former Hudson WI Post Office 54016
Former Hudson WI Post Office 54016

ADDRESS: 225 Locust St. Hudson, Wisconsin 54016
ARTIST: Ruth Grotenrath
TITLE: Unloading a River Barge
MEDIUM: Oil on canvas (mural)
STATUS:  The mural no longer resides in the original Hudson Post Office building. It was moved to the Museum of Wisconsin Artists (MOWA) located in West Bend, Wisconsin. At the time of writing, the mural was in storage and not available for viewing by the public.
YEAR: 1941

I specifically set aside a time to drive up to Hudson so I could photograph this one and hopefully see the mural. My limited research told me there was a mural inside. So I just figured I drive on up here and find out. Little did I know that the building had already been sold and is now The Post Mark Grill.

Had I know when I went to visit I would have planned my trip better and actually eaten here. But we just ate before visiting the building and I didn’t even know it had become a restaurant. So for all those Post Office Fans, if you are headed to Hudson Wisconsin. I’d say make sure you plan your trip and try out the Post Mark Grill. If I ever get the chance to drive out this way again I’m definitely going to try to eat here.

So with that being said, the new owners did do a great job preserving this wonderful old building. They kept all the post office engravings on the front of the building. They keep the awesome eagle above the front entrance. The interior is also wonderfully done. The restaurant is filled with old photographs and artifacts. I really had a great visit here and enjoyed taking it all in. But it begs me to ask? Where is the old mural that once graced the lobby of this building? After speaking to the one of the staff and asking a few more questions, I was told the old mural is in a museum in West Bend Wisconsin. What museum is that I proceeded to ask. Turns out no one knew, and I’d have to figure this one out on my own.

So that is exactly what I did. After returning from this visit I did some research for Wisconsin Museums. What I found was the Museum of Wisconsin Artists, or (MOWA) for short. Now I have a place to start. I’m hoping they may also have some information on the other murals in the state. So stayed tuned, this is going to be a continuing post about the Former Hudson Wisconsin Post Office.

January 8, 2014 Update

Back in September of last year, my wife and I ended up visiting MOWA twice. The first time we were not able to view the mural and the staff wasn’t quite sure where the mural was. After looking through the glass storage windows, I observed something that resembled the post office mural.

Turns out I was right and after contacting the correct staff at MOWA, we were able to scheduled a visit and view this wonderful mural. Although it was in storage, Andrea took time out of her Saturday to let us view it, and for this I can not thank you enough. Hopefully someday this one will make it into the permanent displays. But for now you have a gallery of photos here on postofficefans to enjoy.

In addition to the Hudson Post Office Mural, MOWA also has another one of Ruth Grotenrath’s paintings on display. Its’s called “Modern Madonna”. I’ve included the plaque description with a small piece of the painting below. It’s unique that one gets to observe multiple works by the same artist in one place, which is especially true of post office murals, so I thought I’d mentioned this other work just in case you are interested in Ruth Grotenrath’s art.

UPDATE 2023
It appears the ownership has changed and the restaurant has been change to Post American Eatery. I’m anxious to re-visit and eat here.

Thanks,

David W. Gates Jr.

Unloading a River Barge by Ruth Grotenrath, photo credit David W. Gates Jr.

Former Hudson Wisconsin Post Office 54016
Former Hudson Wisconsin Post Office 54016
Former Hudson Wisconsin Post Office 54016
Former Hudson Wisconsin Post Office 54016
Former Hudson Wisconsin Post Office 54016
Former Hudson Wisconsin Post Office 54016
Former Hudson Wisconsin Post Office 54016
Former Hudson Wisconsin Post Office 54016 Artifacts
Former Hudson Wisconsin Post Office 54016 Artifacts
Former Hudson Wisconsin Post Office 54016 Artifacts
Former Hudson Wisconsin Post Office 54016 Artifacts
Former Hudson Wisconsin Post Office 54016 Artifacts
Former Hudson Wisconsin Post Office 54016 Artifacts
Former Hudson Wisconsin Post Office 54016 Artifacts
Former Hudson Wisconsin Post Office 54016 Cornerstone
Former Hudson Wisconsin Post Office Mural 54016 Artists Signature
Former Hudson Wisconsin Post Office Mural 54016 Center
Former Hudson Wisconsin Post Office Mural 54016 Detail
Former Hudson Wisconsin Post Office Mural 54016 Detail
Former Hudson Wisconsin Post Office Mural 54016 Detail
Former Hudson Wisconsin Post Office Mural 54016 Detail
Former Hudson Wisconsin Post Office Mural 54016 Detail
Former Hudson Wisconsin Post Office Mural 54016 Detail
Former Hudson Wisconsin Post Office Mural 54016 Detail

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

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Former McKenzie Tennessee Post Office

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Former McKenzie TN Post Office 38201
Former McKenzie TN Post Office 38201

ADDRESS: 640 Main St., McKenzie, Tennessee 38201
ARTIST: Karl Oberteuffer
TITLE:  Early U.S. Post Village
MEDIUM: Oil on canvas (mural)
STATUS: The former McKenzie building is no longer a post office. The mural was moved to the newer post office and is on display behind the retail counter. It is only viewable during business hours.
YEAR: 1938

For mural information please see our article on the current McKenzie, Tennessee Post Office.

Today’s featured post office is the former McKenzie Tennessee Post Office. As I was waiting for an answer from the supervisor at the new post office, I had time to swing by this one and photograph it. I’m glad to see this nice old building repurposed as a genealogy library.  The library is named after Gordan Browning the former governor of Tennessee.

And now for the rest of the story, when I first posted about my visit in Tennessee, I mentioned the slow and difficult start. McKenzie was one of the first towns I started to tour during my visit. I knew I wanted to find the old post office and I was happy I did. As you can see by the hours the library was closed, of course I said to myself. I visited on a Wednesday, so the library was closed. I never got inside the building but at least I was able to visit and get a few pictures of the exterior of the building.

I’ll be back to Tennessee to finish up my work but for now here is the Former McKenzie Tennessee Post Office.

Thanks,

David W. Gates Jr.

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