ADDRESS: 100 Washington Street, Marseilles, Illinois 61341
ARTIST: Avery Fischer Johnson
TITLE: Industrial Marseilles
MEDIUM: Oil on canvas (mural)
STATUS: The Marseilles 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 the wall above the postmaster’s door.
YEAR: 1938
Often times when I visit and inquire about the mural or art the folks working at the counter are clueless. My visit to Marseilles, Illinois was an exception. I met a wonderful lady who was very interested in their mural and was able to provide me with a bunch of details about it. Now that’s awesome I said to myself. Here are a few of details I remember from this conservation.
The mural is called “Industrial Marseilles”, It was meant to represent the industries at the time when it was painted around 1938. The lady at the counter also mentioned that all but one of the buildings have disappeared from the Marseilles landscape. The only one that remains today is the large brick building in the center for the painting. Now that is information I wouldn’t have gotten if I had not taken the time to ask . If I also remember correctly the lady was also able to recall the date and artist of the painting. She was aware that it was commissioned during the depression.
It was really a delight to hear someone speak of it and share in the history of the mural. It’s not often that I find USPS employees interested in the art on the wall and this was a real treat to find. Your name escapes me today but rest assured you made my day and my visit enjoyable to Marseilles.
Thanks,
David W. Gates Jr.
Sources
- Personal visit on 7/05/2014 by David W. Gates Jr.
- Illinois Post Office Mural Guidebook
- United States Postal Service
- Democratic Vistas: Post Offices and Public Art in the New Deal
[Hardcover] Marlene Park, Gerald E. Markowitz
- Parma Conservation
