Illinois Post Offices

Rushville Illinois Post Office

September 5, 2015 By David W. Gates Jr.

ADDRESS: 101 East Washington, Street, Rushville, Illinois, 62681
ARTIST: Rainey Bennett
TITLE: Hart Fellows
MEDIUM: Oil on canvas (mural)
STATUS: The Rushville 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: 1940

The unique feature of this mural is that it depicts the first post office in a general store in Rushville. This speaks to a time when a general store provided a place people could catch up with their neighbors. You could head over to the general store pickup some sugar or flour and then send out a postcard to loved one’s.

The mural also represents a time when life was slower and less distracted. People had time to chat with their neighbor or talk to a store clerk and learn about their family. I imagine the ladies in town chatting about the local gossip in Rushville.

Anyway, this is my best description and thoughts about the Rushville mural. What are your thoughts regarding this one? Please comment and share below.

Thanks,

David W. Gates Jr.

Rushville Illinois Post Office Mural 62681 Lobby

Rushville Illinois Post Office Mural 62681 Signature

Rushville Illinois Post Office Mural 62681 Right Side

Rushville Illinois Post Office Mural 62681 Detail

Rushville Illinois Post Office Mural 62681 Full

Rushville Illinois Post Office Mural 62681 Left Side

Rushville Illinois Post Office Mural 62681 Center

Rushville Illinois Post Office 62681 Artifact

Rushville Illinois Post Office 62681 Cornerstone

Rushville Illinois Post Office 62681 Lobby

Sources

Personal visit on 4/3/2015 by David W. Gates Jr.
https://bookshop.org/shop/postofficefansIllinois 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
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Smithsonian

Chandlerville Illinois Post Office

August 29, 2015 By David W. Gates Jr.

ADDRESS: 201 S. Main St., Chandlerville, Illinois 62627

Today’s featured post office is Chandlerville, Illinois. Judging by the old photo in the lobby there must have been a very prosperous doctor who founded this town. Just a guess!

Can anyone out there confirm or share what they know about it? Please comment below. We’d love to hear from you.

David W. Gates Jr.

Sources

Personal visit on 4/3/2015 by David W. Gates Jr.
United States Postal Service

Lewistown Illinois Post Office

August 22, 2015 By David W. Gates Jr.

ADDRESS: 301 North Main Street, Lewistown, Illinois, 61542
ARTIST: Ida Abelman
TITLE: Lewistown Milestone
MEDIUM: Tempera (mural)
STATUS: The Lewistown post office is still an active, operating facility and the mural can be viewed by interested members of the pubic. It resides in the lobby on the wall above the postmaster’s door.
YEAR: 1941

When I hear people talk about Illinois the first thing that comes to mind is Abraham Lincoln. In fact Springfield has a great museum dedicated to Lincoln. So when I visited Lewistown, it was natural to see him as the central figure in the mural.

I had a pleasant visit to Lewistown, I enjoyed talking to the clerk on duty. It became clear how proud he was of the building as he spoke of the mural and artifacts that were on display in the lobby. It surprised me how he mentioned all these items were just sitting in the basement. I can’t help to think and wonder how many other buildings have stuff just sitting around that would make great displays.

Surprising he was also aware of the Hudson WI building being converted to a restaurant. It was refreshing to speak to someone else with an interest in these great buildings. Your name escapes me now but Thank you for the great conversation.

Update October 30, 2016

As I”m going through my little notebook, I found this entry from my Lewistown visit. Apparently, I made a few notes, but never included them here. See, during my visits I carry this notebook, but when I created an article here, I don’t always have my notebook with me. So this little bit of information never made it to this article. So I’m including it here.

During the conversation I had with the local clerk, he mentioned a local person had taken the old counter top. The vestibule is no longer present in the building and if I remember correctly he mentioned the local historical society has it? This is one thing I”ll need to follow-up with. Unless anyone out there has more information the fate of the original vestibule that once resided in this building.

I also made a note the clerk said something about the original steps being pink granite and that they were removed during a renovation of the building many years back. He mentioned there used to be some pink steps in the basement. I wonder if they are still there? Move food for thought as I review my notes.

Thanks,

David W. Gates Jr.