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

Columbus Wisconsin Post Office

October 14, 2013 By David W. Gates Jr.

ADDRESS: 211 S. Dickason Blvd. Columbus, Wisconsin 53925
ARTIST: Arnold Blanch
TITLE: One Hundredth Anniversary
MEDIUM: Oil on canvas (mural)
STATUS: This is still an active post office, and the mural can be viewed by the public. It resides in the lobby on the wall above the postmaster’s door.
YEAR: 1940

Can you guess why I choose to post this one today? Oh man you guessed right. Today is Columbus Day. and what do I have for you today? The Columbus Wisconsin Post Office. I made a special trip just to view this one. I had some extra time one Saturday in July of 2013 and figured what the heck. Let’s drive to Columbus. So here I am admiring this wonderful post office and mural.

Happy Columbus Day!!!!

Thanks,

David W. Gates Jr.

Columbus Wisconsin Post Office 53925 Cornerstone

Columbus Wisconsin Post Office Mural 53925 Full

Columbus Wisconsin Post Office Mural 53925 Center

Columbus Wisconsin Post Office Mural 53925 Left Side

Columbus Wisconsin Post Office Mural 53925 Right Side

Columbus Wisconsin Post Office Mural 53925 Detail

Sources

Personal visit on 7/20/2013 by David W. Gates Jr.
United States Postal Service
Wisconsin Post Office Murals by David W. Gates Jr.
Wisconsin Post Office Mural Guidebook by David W. Gates Jr.
(affiliate link) Democratic Vistas: Post Offices and Public Art in the New Deal: [Hardcover] Marlene Park, Gerald E. Markowitz
National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places, Reference Number (00001250).
National Archives Records and Administration Identifier Number (106778782).

Lancaster Wisconsin Post Office

October 12, 2013 By David W. Gates Jr.

ADDRESS: 236 W. Maple St. Lancaster, Wisconsin 53813
ARTIST: Tom Rost
TITLE: Farm Yard
MEDIUM: Mural
STATUS: The Lancaster Post Office is still active and the mural accessible to the public. It resides in the lobby on the wall above the post- master’s door.
YEAR: 1940

Welcome to another awesome Wisconsin Post Office. Today’s featured building is Lancaster. I’m delighted to finally be able to bring this one to you. I’ve had to visit this one a total of 3 times in order to get inside and photograph the mural. The hard work and dedication has paid off, as I’ve got some great photos to show you in the gallery below.

The first time I visited was on a Sunday and they do not keep the lobby open. So I returned from another trip on a Saturday but showed up after business hours. I finally set aside a Saturday morning and made a specific trip just to get inside and see the mural. All that driving and repeat visits is what you see below.

Enjoy!

David W. Gates Jr.

Lancaster Wisconsin Post Office 53813 Artifacts

Lancaster Wisconsin Post Office 53813 Cornerstone

Lancaster Wisconsin Post Office Mural 53813 Center

Lancaster Wisconsin Post Office Mural 53813 Detail

Lancaster Wisconsin Post Office Mural 53813 Full

Lancaster Wisconsin Post Office Mural 53813 Left Side

Lancaster Wisconsin Post Office Mural 53813 Right Side

Lancaster WisconsinI Post Office Mural 53813 Detail

Sources

Personal visit on 6/12/2013, 7/14/2013, 8/3/2013, by David W. Gates Jr.
Wisconsin Post Office Murals by David W. Gates Jr.
Wisconsin 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
National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places, Reference Number (00001245).
National Archives Records and Administration Identifier Number (106778965).

Oconomowoc Wisconsin Post Office

October 5, 2013 By David W. Gates Jr.

ADDRESS: 38 S. Main St. Oconomowoc, Wisconsin 53066
ARTIST: Edward Morton
TITLE: Winter Sports and Rabbit Hunters
MEDIUM: Oil on canvas (mural)
STATUS: The Oconomowoc Post Office is still active and the mural view- able by the public. It resides on the wall of the main lobby.
YEAR: 1938

What a cool mural! So for most of my visits, the artwork has been in the 1939 or 1940. This one however, was done in 1938, which I believe makes it one of the older ones out there. Pretty neat. Somewhere along the line I heard or read that this one was in storage for the longest time. Sometime in the 80’s or 90’s it was removed from the basement restored and placed back in the lobby.

Where did I hear this? Was this writing someplace? Do you happen to know? Please comment below.

Thanks,

David W. Gates Jr.