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.
Sources
- Personal visit on 4/3/2015 by David W. Gates Jr.
- (affiliate link) Illinois Post Office Mural Guidebook
- United States Postal Service
- (affiliate link) Democratic Vistas: Post Offices and Public Art in the New Deal
: [Hardcover] Marlene Park, Gerald E. Markowitz
- Parma Conservation (https://parmaconservation.com)
