Grant Wright Christian

ADDRESS: 202 E., Market St., Nappanee, Indiana 46550
ARTIST: Grant Wright Christian
TITLE: Waiting for the Mail
MEDIUM: Oil on canvas (mural)
STATUS: The Nappanee 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 a wall above the postmaster’s door.
YEAR: 1935

What a great looking building. The more post offices I visit the more little elements I notice. The couple and fence on the top of the Nappanee building is a perfect example. Most of the roofs are plain or have simple designs. Both items along with the decorative facia and you have a great looking building.

The lobby is closed on Sunday’s I’ll have to come to enjoy the mural.

Update

Luckily, I was able to re-visit this one March 2, 2022 for mural images.

David W. Gates Jr.

Nappanee IN Post Office 46550 Cornerstone

Nappanee IN Post Office 46550 Mural Center

Nappanee IN Post Office 46550 Mural Left

Nappanee IN Post Office 46550 Mural Right

Nappanee IN Post Office 46550 Mural Signature

Sources

Personal visit on 12/12/21 about 9:26 AM & 03/02/2022 at 1:18 PM by David W. Gates Jr.
Indiana Post Office Mural Guidebook by David W. Gates Jr.
United States Postal Service
(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
Parma Conservation (https://parmaconservation.com)

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.