Artist

Crown Point Indiana Post Office

October 7, 2021 By David W. Gates Jr.

ADDRESS: 128 S., East St., Crown Point, Indiana 46307
ARTIST: George Melville Smith
TITLE: From Such Beginnings Sprang the County of Lake
MEDIUM: Oil on canvas (mural)
STATUS: The Crown Point post office is still an active operating facility, and the mural can be viewed by interested memebers of the pubic. It resides in the lobby on a wall above the former postmaster’s door.
YEAR: 1938

Initially, I wasn’t planning on stopping at the Crown Point building. However, by the time I got here on a Sunday Morning at 6:11AM, the sun was just starting to rise. In addition when I checked the lobby doors, they were open. So low and behold, I spend a good amount of time here and photograph the mural, by the time I was ready to leave, I was able to get a few exterior photos of the outside. They are dark, but I also kind of like the mysterious look and feel to them.

Note to self: that cornerstone was hard to get. I had to hold back the branches using one hand and then try to photograph it with my other hands. When you revisit this one bring another set of hands or the kid to help out.

David W. Gates Jr.

Crown Point IN Post Office 46307 Mural Signature

Crown Point IN Post Office 46307 Mural Right

Crown Point IN Post Office 46307 Mural Left

Crown Point IN Post Office 46307 Cornerstone

Crown Point IN Post Office 46307 Mural Detail

Crown Point IN Post Office 46307 Mural Center

Crown Point IN Post Office 46307 Artifact

Sources

Personal visit on 9/26/21 about 6:10 AM and 12/12/2021 at 4:33 PM and 3/02/2022 at 4:36 PM and 06/27/2023 about 11:28 AM by David W. Gates Jr.
Indiana Post Office Mural Guidebook by David W. Gates Jr.
Chicago Tribune, New Deal-era mural restored for Park Ridge Library – Park Ridge Herald-Advocate (chicagotribune.com)
Smithsonian National Postal Museum, Indians Cede the Land | National Postal Museum (si.edu)
United States Postal Service
Indiana Landmarks, New Deal Left Its Stamp on Local Post Offices – Indiana Landmarks
(affiliate link) Democratic Vistas: Post Offices and Public Art in the New Deal: [Hardcover] Marlene Park, Gerald E. Markowitz
(affiliate link) A Simple and Vital Design: The Story of the Indiana Post Office Murals: John C. Carlisle

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.

Wilmington DE Former Post Office 19801 Plaque

Wilmington DE Former Post Office 19801 Cornerstone

Wilmington DE Former Post Office 19801 Mural1

Wilmington DE Former Post Office 19801 Mural2

Sources

Personal visit on 8/14/21 about 5:20 PM by David W. Gates Jr.
(affiliate link) Democratic Vistas: Post Offices and Public Art in the New Deal: [Hardcover] Marlene Park, Gerald E. Markowitz
Wilmington Trust (https://www.wilmingtontrust.com/)
WOLFS Gallery: Albert Pels | Artists | WOLFS Fine Paintings and Sculpture (wolfsgallery.com)
Ask Art: Albert Pels – Biography (askart.com)

Indianapolis Former Post Office and Courthouse Birch Bayh Federal Building

October 4, 2021 By David W. Gates Jr.

ADDRESS: 46 E. Ohio St., Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
ARTIST: Grant Wright Christian & Reynold Selfridge
TITLE: Mail, Transportation and Delivery, Culture & Education, Safety Patrol, To Those Who Served, Early & Present Day Indianapolis Life
MEDIUM: Oil on canvas (murals) 9 panels
STATUS: The Indiana Post Office and Courthouse no longer houses the United States Postal Service. However, the building is still an active Federal building with GSA, Marshall and Courtrooms present.
YEAR: 1936

ADDRESS: 46 E. Ohio St., Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
ARTIST: David K. Rubins
TITLE: Distribution of the Mail
MEDIUM: Limestone (reliefs)
STATUS: The Indiana Post Office and Courthouse no longer houses the United States Postal Service. However, the building is still an active Federal building with GSA, Marshall and Courtrooms present.
YEAR: 1936

My recent visit to Indianapolis was to visit the Indiana Historical Society. I was looking to get some preliminary research done for the Indiana post office murals. The historical society is only open until 5:00 PM which left me time to walk over the Birch Bayh Federal building.

This is a great looking building and it also have some great statutes on the exterior of the building. Since it was a weekend, I didn’t even try to get inside to view the murals, and since that wasn’t the purpose of my trip anyway.

I’ll plan another trip to Indianapolis in the future, but for now here are some exterior images of this magnificent Building.

David W. Gates Jr.