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

Black River Falls Wisconsin Post Office

November 24, 2012 By David W. Gates Jr.

ADDRESS: 108 Fillmore St. Black River Falls, Wisconsin 54615
ARTIST: Frank E. Buffmire
TITLE: Lumbering Black River Mill
MEDIUM: Oil on canvas (mural)
STATUS: The Black River Falls Post Office is active to this day, and the mural is viewable by the public. It resides in the lobby on the wall above the postmaster’s door.
YEAR: 1939

I just made it here on time. As I was pulling up to the Black River Falls post office, a employee was walking out of the building to retrieve the mail from the box out in front. With a hurried and frantic tone to my voice I explained I just wanted to get a few photos of the mural. Luckily, I was able to get some photographs before the lobby closed.

And that my friends is how it works sometimes when you visit a lot of post offices. The hard work I go to bring you these great post offices is truly rewarding.

Thanks for visiting,

David W. Gates Jr.

Artist Frank Buffmire - Black River Falls Post Office Mural

Black River Falls Wisconsin Post Office 54615 Cornerstone

Black River Falls Wisconsin Post Office Mural 54615

Black River Falls Wisconsin Post Office Mural Center

Black River Falls Wisconsin Post Office Mural Detail 54615

Black River Falls Wisconsin Post Office Mural Left Side

Black River Falls Wisconsin Post Office Mural Right Side

Black River Falls Wisconsin Post Office Mural Signature

Sources

Personal visit on 7/27/2012 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

Park Falls Wisconsin Post Office

November 10, 2012 By David W. Gates Jr.

ADDRESS: 109 1st St. Park Falls, Wisconsin 54552
ARTIST: James Watrous
TITLE: Flambeau River Fight
MEDIUM: Oil on canvas (mural)
STATUS: The Park Falls Post Office is still active and the mural decoration remains viewable by the public. It resides in the lobby on the wall above the postmaster’s door.
YEAR: 1938

Park Falls is another post office gem. It has also been dedicated a National Historical Site in 1996. The building itself is quite impressive standing several stories. I was told by the friendly postal working that it also housed several government offices when it as first built.

Park Falls also houses one of the largest murals I’ve seen. (See Photographs) Legend has it two logging company’s fought each other for the privilege of driving their logs down the Flambeau river.

As I visited I was also greeted by a very friendly postal worker. I started asking about the mural and he proceeded to tell me all about the mural and the artist. Even before I read the mural description, he was quick to tell me about the legend of the two logging companies. He mentioned back in those days being the first down the river could possibility mean the difference of getting paid or not getting paid. I guess back in those days the wood mills only took in so much wood and thus only paid for so much lumber. If you were last to get to the mill you may not get paid. This is the story I heard from the postal worker. Whether this is legend or fiction I’m unknown but a great story.

The postal worker I met also mentioned that a previous postmaster at some point wanted to paint over or have the mural taken down because it was so violent. I’m certainly glad he or she changed their minds. Although it is a violent depiction of our past it’s still a wonderful painting and is also a reminder of the way life used to be.

Thanks,

David W. Gates Jr.

Park Falls Wisconsin Post Office Artifacts

Park Falls Wisconsin Post Office Cornerstone

Park Falls Wisconsin Post Office Mural Right Side bottom

Park Falls Wisconsin Post Office Mural Left Side

Park Falls Wisconsin Post Office Mural Description 54552

Park Falls Wisconsin Post Office Mural Center

Park Falls Wisconsin Post Office Lobby Bulletin

Park Falls Wisconsin Post Office Historical Plaque

Park Falls Wisconsin Post Office Historical Award 1996

Park Falls Wisconsin Post Office Mural Right Side

Park Falls Wisconsin Post Office, Artists James Watrous Signature

Park Falls Wisconsin Post Office 54552 Old Photos

Park Falls Wisconsin Post Office Mural 54552

Sources

Personal visit on 7/27/2012 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 (00001238).
National Archives Records and Administration Identifier Number (106779307).

Former De Pere Wisconsin Post Office

October 13, 2012 By David W. Gates Jr.

ADDRESS: 416 George St. De Pere, Wisconsin 54115
ARTIST: Lester W. Bentley
TITLE: The Red Pieta, Nicholas Perrot, Give Us This Day
MEDIUM: Oil on canvas (Three individual mural panels)
STATUS: The murals no longer reside in the original building on George Street. They have been moved to the Neville Public Museum in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Call ahead to verify the hours of the museum before heading out to view this one. The panels were located on the wall of one of the stairwells of the museum.
YEAR: 1942

When I entered the address for the De Pere Post Office into my car’s GPS it took me to the newer post office, about a half mile away from the original building. So I took pictures of the newer building and waited in line to ask the lady behind the counter where the original post office was located. She immediately knew and gave me the address and brief directions to the building you see above.

I was immediately impressed with the look of it. Most of the buildings from this era are typically just a square box with a flat roof. This particular one has a wonderful stone facade and bell housing on the roof. I’m not actually sure if that is what you call the white box thing, but I’m at a loss what the technical architectural name is. Do I have any architects followers? or construction folks who might know what this is called? For now, I’ll just refer to it as a bell housing with weather vane. It’s a wonderful decorative feature.

My initial research reviled there was a mural at one time located here, but clearly the building has been sold a number of years ago and appears to be privately owned. I proceeded inside to get a better look and to see if the mural still exist here. Sadly, I did not see the mural and only one office was open at the time I visited. The mural was not visible from the one office I saw. The gentleman who greeted me was very cordial and showed me the old post office photographs in his office and lobby.

So I need help on this one folks. Does anyone know what happened to the mural that was once in the lobby of this wonderful post office? At the time I visited I was heading home from a road tip and didn’t have time to stop at the local historical society. If anyone has more information on this one I’d love to hear from you. Any newspaper articles or artifacts from this one would be great to see.

Update – November 11, 2013

After further research and some phone calls I discovered the original murals once located here are now housed in the Neville Public Museum. Observing and photographing these was my object in early October 2013. Since I knew it was there, I set aside a weekend to head up to Green Bay to see this with my own eyes. What I found is shown in the images below. Three panels is a unique feature of this display.

Thanks for stopping by,

David W. Gates Jr.