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

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

Chicago Illinois (Uptown Station) Post Office

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Chicago IL Uptown Station Post Office 60640
Chicago IL Uptown Station Post Office 60640

ADDRESS: 4850 North Broadway Street, Chicago, Illinois 60640
ARTIST: Henry Varnum Poor
TITLE: Carl Sandburg & Louis Sullivan
MEDIUM: Ceramic (titles)
STATUS: The Chicago Uptown Station is still an active, operating facility, and the titles can be viewed by interested members of the public. The tiles are located in the lobby on the wall above the retail service counters.
YEAR: 1943

The good thing about visiting post offices in the city is the abundance of artificial light. It was only about 5:00 pm when I visited but the sun had already set so it was rather dark.

While I was there a person at the entrance was opening the door for people. I think I spooked him off because when I started taking pictures he ran off across the street.

The post office has two eagle sculptures draping the front entrance. They appear to be carved out of granite and are an impressive decorative feature. The lobby also contains two great murals. Both are excellent examples of artwork commissioned by the Section of Fine Arts.

The stamped stone list the following, James A Farley as postmaster general, John M Carmody as the Federal Works Administrator, W Englebert Reynolds as commissioner of Public Buildings, Louis A Simon Supervising Architect, Neal A Melick Supervising Engineer, Howard Loveweil Cheney as Consulting Architect. The date on the building is 1939.

Updated November 2015

I had the pleasure of visiting this building again during the daylight hours in October of 2015. The lighting was so much better. I took the time to get additional detail photos of the ceramic title murals. As I’m updating this article I’ve decided to keep the older photos in addition to the new photos. This contrast represents the challenges I face when visiting post offices during the winter months here in the midwest.

Thanks,

David W. Gates Jr.

Chicago Illinois Uptown Station Post Office 60640 Dedication Plaque
Chicago Illinois Uptown Station Post Office 60640 Cornerstone
Chicago Illinois Uptown Station Post Office 60640
Chicago Illinois Uptown Station Post Office 60640
Chicago Illinois Uptown Station Post Office 60640
Chicago Illinois Uptown Station Post Office 60640
Chicago Illinois Uptown Station Post Office 60640
Chicago Illinois Uptown Station Post Office 60640 Dedication Plaque
Chicago Illinois Uptown Station Post Office Mural 2 60640 Detail
Chicago Illinois Uptown Station Post Office Mural 2 60640 Detail
Chicago Illinois Uptown Station Post Office Mural 2 60640 Detail
Chicago Illinois Uptown Station Post Office Mural 2 60640 Detail
Chicago Illinois Uptown Station Post Office Mural 2 60640 Detail
Chicago Illinois Uptown Station Post Office Mural 2 60640 Detail
Chicago Illinois Uptown Station Post Office Mural 2 60640 Detail
Chicago Illinois Uptown Station Post Office Mural 2 60640 Detail
Chicago Illinois Uptown Station Post Office Mural 2 60640 Detail
Chicago Illinois Uptown Station Post Office Mural 2 60640 Full
Chicago Illinois Uptown Station Post Office Mural 60640 Detail
Chicago Illinois Uptown Station Post Office Mural 60640 Detail
Chicago Illinois Uptown Station Post Office Mural 2 60640 Signature
Chicago Illinois Uptown Station Post Office Mural 2 60640 Signature
Chicago Illinois Uptown Station Post Office Mural 2 60640 Full
Chicago Illinois Uptown Station Post Office Mural 60640 Detail

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

Sources

Hamilton Illinois Post Office

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Hamilton IL PO 62341
Hamilton IL PO 62341

ADDRESS: 1160 Broadway Street, Hamilton, Illinois, 62341
ARTIST: Edmund D. Lewandowski
TITLE: On The River
MEDIUM: Oil on canvas (mural)
STATUS: The Hamilton 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: 1941

January 10, 2012

Hamilton was my goal for this road trip. My research reveled that it had an interesting mural. This fact also brought to my attention, that it most likely is an older post office. So with this knowledge in hand, a tank full of gas, two ham sandwiches, I set out and drove to Hamilton Illinois.

I was not disappointed when I first spotted the building. The design and look of the building immediately gave away its age. I took pictures of the exterior and the corner-stone at the lower left corner then headed inside.

The mural is beautiful and even more impressive in person. The artist signed the mural on the lower left corner of the piece. Viewing these works of art is a delight and the reason I created this website.

Thanks for visiting.

David W. Gates Jr.

Hamilton Illinois Post Office 62341
Hamilton Illinois Post Office Mural 62341 Full
Hamilton Illinois Post Office 62341
Hamilton Illinois Post Office 62341 Cornerstone
Hamilton Illinois Post Office 62341
Hamilton Illinois Post Office Mural 62341 Left Side
Hamilton Illinois Post Office 62341
Hamilton Illinois Post Office 62341

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

Sources

Geneva Illinois Post Office

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Geneva IL Post Office 60134
Geneva IL Post Office 60134

ADDRESS: 26 South 3rd Street, Geneva, Illinois, 60134
ARTIST: Manuel Abraham Bromberg
TITLE: Fish Fry in the Park
MEDIUM: Tempera (mural)
STATUS: The Geneva post office is still an active, operating facility and the mural is viewable by interested members of the pubic. It resides in the lobby on the wall above the postmaster’s door.
YEAR: 1940

I was sad to see the Geneva Post Office for sale when I visited. I learned about this one being for sale while I was doing some basic research. I made a point to visit today because I wanted the opportunity to view the inside of the building before it is sold off.

The  Geneva, Illinois post office is currently on the market for $990,000, according the US Properties For Sale website.

It’s a great older building with great architecture. The mural has already been removed as I did not see it during my visit. I’m wondering what happened to it. The Geneva History Center has a nice display case of older photographs in the lobby. It was nice to see these and I wonder what will happen to them when the building is sold.

It made me a little sad to see the slow deterioration of the building. I hope whoever purchases the property will keep the look and feel of this iconic building. A part of me wishes I had the means or use for this building, I’d buy it myself.

If anyone wishes to share their feelings about this one I’d love to hear from you.

Thanks,

David W. Gates Jr.

Geneva Illinois Post Office 60134 Artifacts
Geneva Illinois Post Office 60134 Artifacts
Geneva Illinois Post Office 60134 Artifacts
Geneva Illinois Post Office 60134 Artifacts
Geneva Illinois Post Office 60134 Artifacts
Geneva Illinois Post Office 60134 Artifacts
Geneva Illinois Post Office 60134 Artifacts
Geneva Illinois Post Office Mural 60134 Detail
Geneva Illinois Post Office Mural 60134 Detail
Geneva Illinois Post Office Mural 60134 Detail
Geneva Illinois Post Office Mural 60134 Detail
Geneva Illinois Post Office Mural 60134 Detail
Geneva Illinois Post Office Mural 60134 Detail
Geneva Illinois Post Office Mural 60134 Detail
Geneva Illinois Post Office Mural 60134 Detail
Geneva Illinois Post Office Mural 60134 Detail
Geneva Illinois Post Office Mural 60134 Detail
Geneva Illinois Post Office Mural 60134 Detail
Geneva Illinois Post Office Mural 60134 Detail
Geneva Illinois Post Office Mural 60134 Detail
Geneva Illinois Post Office Mural 60134 Detail
Geneva Illinois Post Office Mural 60134 Detail
Geneva Illinois Post Office Mural 60134 Full
Geneva Illinois Post Office Mural 60134 Detail

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Updated January 2016

I had the pleasure of re-visiting this building in January of this year. This was one of the first buildings I was made aware of that were for sale. Once I knew this I wanted to photograph the mural before it was sold and it private hands.

After visiting this year, I discovered the building is no longer for sale and the mural was restored and re-installed in the lobby.

I’m disappointed that I missed the rededication as outlined in the Patch but I’m even more delighted the mural has returned and the building is no longer for sale.

Here are my photographs.

Updated 11/16/2020

Made another visit for better photographs of the exterior of the building.

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

Sources