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You are here: Home / Archives for Mural

Post offices with murals, includes new deal and non-new deal art.

Post offices with murals, includes new deal and non-new deal art.

Oak Park Illinois Post Office – Part 1 The Building & Artifacts

November 27, 2013 By David W. Gates Jr.

Oak Park IL Post Office 60301
Oak Park IL Post Office 60301

ADDRESS: 901 Lake Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60301

I took over 100 photographs here. As you can see by the size of this its a Grand Old Daddy of a building. Lots to see here, I know what you are saying to yourself. “It’s just a Post Office”. But hold on, its much more than that. Let me show you in pictures.

Today is part one of our five-part series featuring the Oak Park, Illinois Post Office. Today we showcase the building and the artifacts. Over the next four day’s I’ll showcase each one of the four murals located in the lobby of this great old post office.

Before I begin, I’d like to thank Deb, one of my followers who suggested I visit this one. I had no idea how wonderful this building was until  she brought it to my attention. Thanks Deb, I hear by dedicate this series to you. Thanks again for following along.

Let’s start the tour with images of the actual building itself which is quite impressive.

Oak Park Illinois Post Office 60301
Oak Park Illinois Post Office 60301
Oak Park Illinois Post Office 60301
Oak Park IL Post Office 60301
Oak Park IL Post Office 60301
Oak Park IL Post Office 60301
Oak Park IL Post Office 60301
Oak Park IL Post Office 60301
Oak Park IL Post Office 60301
Oak Park IL Post Office 60301
Oak Park IL Post Office 60301
Oak Park IL Post Office 60301
Oak Park IL Post Office 60301
Oak Park IL Post Office 60301
Oak Park IL Post Office 60301
Oak Park IL Post Office 60301
Oak Park IL Post Office 60301
Oak Park IL Post Office 60301
Oak Park Illinois Post Office 60301
Oak Park Illinois Post Office 60301
Oak Park Illinois Post Office 60301

If the actual building has not caught your attention let’s take a look at the wonderful artifacts found in the lobby.

Ok, so you must be saying to yourself… Ok so it’s an impressive building and has nice artifacts. But I’ve seen great buildings. Well folks in addition to the neat architecture. It also has artwork. Not one, not two, not three, but four murals in total. That’s right folks in addition to the great building and artifacts, we also have four murals here in Oak Park, Illinois.

There is so much here that I felt I’d break this up into a five-part series. Stay tuned for Part 2 the first mural tomorrow. What do you think of this great building?  What interesting facts do you know about it. Would you like to share with us? Please leave a comment below.

Thanks,

David W. Gates Jr.

Oak Park Illinois Post Office 60301 Artifacts
Oak Park Illinois Post Office 60301 Artifacts
Oak Park Illinois Post Office 60301 Artifacts
Oak Park Illinois Post Office 60301 Artifacts
Oak Park Illinois Post Office 60301 Artifacts
Oak Park Illinois Post Office 60301 Artifacts
Oak Park Illinois Post Office 60301 Artifacts
Oak Park Illinois Post Office 60301 Artifacts
Oak Park Illinois Post Office 60301 Artifacts
Oak Park Illinois Post Office 60301 Artifacts
Oak Park Illinois Post Office 60301 Artifacts
Oak Park Illinois Post Office 60301 Artifacts

“Used with the permission of the United States Postal Service®. All rights reserved.”

Sources

  • Personal visit on 11/02/2013 by David W. Gates Jr.
  • Illinois 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

Filed Under: Artifacts, Artwork, Cornerstone, Illinois, New Deal, Post Office Tagged With: Artifacts, Artwork, Cornerstone, Illinois, Mural, New Deal, Post Office

Former East Lansing Michigan Post Office

November 23, 2013 By David W. Gates Jr.

Former East Lansing MI Post Office 48823
Former East Lansing MI Post Office 48823

ADDRESS: 327 Abbot Rd., East Lansing, Michigan, 48823
ARTIST: Henry Bernstein
TITLE: America’s First Agriculture College
MEDIUM: Oil on canvas (mural)
STATUS: The mural has been moved to the Michigan State University Library.
Year: 1937

Welcome to Dublin Square, what was once a post office is now an Irish Pub. No, I didn’t get to eat or drink here during my visit. but I did get some photos of the building. I guess to the average person it just looks like a brink building with some trim. To me is SCREAMS WPA era building.

Upon closer inspection you will notice they also covered the corner stone with the decorative wooden corner trim. I did not confirm the corner stone is still there however, speaking from experience this is exactly where it should be.

Can anyone confirm this? Do you have an old picture of the building with the corner stone visible? I’m really curious?  I wonder if the pub owners have pictures of the renovation of the building? Would you mind sharing?

As for the mural, that once resided here. It is now located in the Library of Michigan State University. How do I know this?, well my wife looked it up and did some research for me. Since we discovered this, I decided to confirm that it is indeed locate in the library. So there you go, yes, we’ve confirmed it is located in in the Michigan State University Library. Now you can stop wondering. I’ve done the leg work for you. I hope you enjoy this post and please leave a comment below.

Thanks,

David W. Gates Jr.

Former East Lansing Michigan Post Office 48823
Former East Lansing Michigan Post Office 48823
Former East Lansing Michigan Post Office 48823
Former East Lansing Michigan Post Office 48823
Former East Lansing Michigan Post Office 48823
Former East Lansing Michigan Post Office Mural 48823 Center
Former East Lansing Michigan Post Office Mural 48823 Plaque
Former East Lansing Michigan Post Office Mural 48823 Left Side
Former East Lansing Michigan Post Office Mural 48823 Right Side
Former East Lansing Michigan Post Office Mural 48823 Signature
Former East Lansing Michigan Post Office Mural 48823 Full
Former East Lansing Michigan Post Office 48823 Corner Stone
Former East Lansing Michigan Post Office Mural 48823 Detail
Former East Lansing Michigan Post Office Mural 48823 Full
Former East Lansing Michigan Post Office Mural 48823 Detail
Former East Lansing Michigan Post Office Mural 48823 Detail
Former East Lansing Michigan Post Office Mural 48823 Detail
Former East Lansing Michigan Post Office Mural 48823 Detail
Former East Lansing Michigan Post Office Mural 48823 Plaque

“Used with the permission of the United States Postal Service®. All rights reserved.”

Sources

  • Personal visit on 11/10/2013 by David W. Gates Jr.
  • (affiliate link) Democratic Vistas: Post Offices and Public Art in the New Deal: [Hardcover]  Marlene Park, Gerald E. Markowitz.

Filed Under: Artwork, Cornerstone, Former Post Office, Michigan, New Deal, Post Office Tagged With: Artwork, Cornerstone, Former Post Office, Henry Bernstein, Michigan, Mural, New Deal, Post Office

Forest Park Illinois Post Office

November 16, 2013 By David W. Gates Jr.

Forest Park IL Post Office 60130
Forest Park IL Post Office 60130

ADDRESS: 417 Des Plains Avenue, Forest Park, Illinois, 60130
ARTIST: Miriam McKinnie (Hofmeier)
TITLE: The White Fawn
MEDIUM: Oil on canvas (mural)
STATUS: The Forest Park 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

Ever walk into the Forest Park, Illinois Post Office and ask yourself… “I wonder who painted the mural?” or, “I wonder what title of it is?. Well look no further. You’ve come to the right place.

I was only able to get these two photos of the mural before the lady at the counter stop me from taking any more. I was taken backed that it didn’t even occur to me that I should have said more, but I kept my mouth shut. I gave her my card and also got the phone number for the postmaster. I was instructed to call and ask for permission before taking any more photos. I’m pretty sure this is not necessary and I don’t want to cause any trouble so I just left. I figured since I live in the Chicago-Land area it won’t be that big of a deal to get back here again.

However, if you are the postmaster, and you happen upon this article, would it be ok to continue with documenting your building and mural? I’d really appreciate it.

But I want to hear from you? Have you ever wondered bout this mural? Do you know more about it? Please leave a comment below, I’d really like to know more about what you think about it?

Thanks,

David W. Gates Jr.

Forest Park Illinois Post Office Mural 60130 Full
Forest Park Illinois Post Office Mural 60130 Full
Forest Park Illinois Post Office 60130 Cornerstone
Forest Park Illinois Post Office 60130
Forest Park Illinois Post Office 60130
Forest Park Illinois Post Office 60130

“Used with the permission of the United States Postal Service®. All rights reserved.”

Sources

  • Personal visit on 10/27/2013 by David W. Gates Jr.
  • Illinois 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
  • Forest Park Review

Filed Under: Artist, Artwork, Cornerstone, Illinois, New Deal, Post Office Tagged With: Artist, Artwork, Cornerstone, Illinois, Miriam McKinnie Hofmeier, Mural, New Deal, Parma Conservation, Post Office

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