ADDRESS: 215 W. College St., Dickson, Tennessee, 37055
ARTIST: Edwin Boyd Johnson
TITLE: People of the Soil
MEDIUM: Fresco (mural)
STATUS: No longer an active post office. The mural still resides here, however, it’s not accessible to the public. The mural was painted directly into the plaster and I’m guessing was cost prohibited to move.
YEAR: 1939
Yes, I’ll express my disappointment in finding this building in disrepair. Apparently the building was sold off some time ago and is now under private ownership. Presumably private ownership, as I was only able to get a little bit of information from some local folks. They reported they think its a private residents house.
I knocked on the door just trying to get a glimpse of the mural. But no luck, apparently nobody was home and since I was unfamiliar with the status of the building did not want to take pictures inside the windows. I was sad to see the corner stone starting to break apart. I wonder how this could be restored, or saved? I wonder if the current owners would help.
I left my business card in the hopes that I would hear from someone. Anyone who could let me know more about it. So now it’s just a waiting game. Who can help? Who can tell me more about this building? When was it sold off? Is it really a private home? Why wasn’t the mural saved or transferred? I’d really like to see it up close and photograph it.
Please Mr. Owner of this building, would you be so kind as to let a lover of this artwork into your building to see it up close? I would really appreciate it.
Thanks,
David W. Gates Jr.
Sources
- Personal visit on 3/31/2013 & 10/2019 by David, Post Office Fans
- Personal visit on 0525/2022 b Brandy
- 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
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places, Reference Number (96000934).
- National Archives Records and Administration Identifier Number (135818241).
- The Tennessean (See what’s coming to the former Downtown Dickson post office? (tennessean.com)
by David W. Gates Jr.
Updated 05/29/2022
Time for another nice story. This week I heard from a lady that happen to pass by this building when it was undergoing some electrical work. As luck would have it, she was invited inside and took these wonderful photos of the interior of the building. Although, it is not in great shape it is still a treat to see. And that mural is in good condition considering the rest of the building. This on is also a fresco.
Thank you Brandy,
