Celebrating our Nation's Post Offices
Illinois Post Offices
ADDRESS: 106 W. Main St., Galatia, Illinois 62935
Today’s featured post office is Galatia, Illinois. Just a nice quiet post office in a nice quiet Illinois town.
What can you tell me about it? Please comment below and share your experience with this building.
David W. Gates Jr.
ADDRESS: 900 4th Street, Eldorado, Illinois, 62930
ARTIST: William Schwartz
TITLE: Mining in Illinois
MEDIUM: Oil on canvas (mural)
STATUS: The Eldorado 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: 1937
Today’s feature post office is Eldorado, Illinois. I had no idea there was mining activity in Illinois until I viewed the mural inside the lobby of Eldorado post office.
When I think of Illinois, mining is not an industry that comes to mind. When I describe Illinois to people from out-of-state, I often find myself talking about flat land with lots of corn fields. So needless to say I was a bit shocked to see mining as the subject of this mural.
The piece itself is on the darker side, and the subject is from a different time in our nation’s history. I’m unsure what to make of it. I’m drawn to the color and window to past of Eldorado, but I’m also at a loss for words to adequately describe it. What are your thoughts? Please comment below.
David W. Gates Jr.
: [Hardcover] Marlene Park, Gerald E. Markowitz
ADDRESS: 201 South Walnut Street, Carmi, Illinois 62821
ARTIST: William Davenport Griffen
TITLE: Service to the Farmer
MEDIUM: Oil on canvas (mural)
STATUS: The Carmi 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: 1939
Today’s featured post office is Carmi. Another great looking building. This one also happens to be another one of those with the Plane, Train and Ship on the exterior top facade of the building.
Photographing the full mural was a challenge. The lobby light fixture hangs down right in front, making it difficult to get an un-obstructed photograph. I did my best, what do you think? Taking the close-up’s I’m able to bring you a better idea and complete picture. How did I do?
What can you tell me about the artist? Do you know if the artist used a specific farm or family for the subject of this piece? Please share and comment below.
Thanks,
David W. Gates Jr.
: [Hardcover] Marlene Park, Gerald E. Markowitz