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

Carthage Illinois Post Office

January 22, 2012 By David W. Gates Jr.

ADDRESS: 615 Main Street, Carthage, Illinois 62321
ARTIST: Karl Kelpe
TITLE: Pioneers Tilling the Soil and Building Log Cabin
MEDIUM: Oil on canvas (mural)
STATUS: The Carthage 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: 1939

Another post office on my two-day road trip in Illinois. The corner-stone on the front of the building indicates the following. Henry Morgenthau Jr. as secretary of the treasury. James A. Farley as postmaster general, Louis A. Simon as supervising architect and George O. Von Nerta as supervising engineer.

Thanks,

David W. Gates Jr.

Carthage Illinois Post Office Mural 62321 Full

Carthage Illinois Post Office 62321 Cornerstone

Carthage Illinois Post Office 62321 Mural Signature

Sources

Personal visit on 1/11/2012 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.

Lake Geneva Wisconsin Post Office

January 14, 2012 By David W. Gates Jr.

ADDRESS: 672 W. Main St. Lake Geneva, Wisconsin 53147
ARTIST: George A Dietrich
TITLE: Winter Landscapes
MEDIUM: Oil on canvas (mural)
STATUS: The mural is still present in the post office. It is accessible to members of the public interested in viewing it. It resides in the lobby on the wall above the postmaster’s door.
YEAR: 1940

My girlfriend and I decided to take a road trip to Lake Geneva today. We heard there was a walking trail around the lake and wanted to look into. We found the visitors center and a friendly staff person full of local information.

After our brief walk along the lake we headed over to the post office. I was excited to see the mural on the wall. The lobby was open but the sales counter area was locked. I ended up taking pictures through the glass.

The lobby area also had a postage stamp looking artwork on display. The descriptive plaque list it created by “Junior American Citizens” it’s also dated 2002.

Another plaque list the building expansion in 1987 by Magill Construction Co.

The stamped granite block on the exterior of building list the following. The building’s corner-stone is stamped 1939.

Thanks for stopping by,

David W. Gates Jr.

Lake Geneva Wisconsin Post Office 53147 Cornerstone

Lake Geneva Wisconsin Post Office 53147 Dedication Plaque

Lake Geneva Wisconsin Post Office Mural 53147 Artists Signature

Lake Geneva Wisconsin Post Office Mural 53147 Center

Lake Geneva Wisconsin Post Office Mural 53147 Detail

Lake Geneva Wisconsin Post Office Mural 53147 Full

Lake Geneva Wisconsin Post Office Mural 53147 Left Side

Lake Geneva Wisconsin Post Office Mural 53147 Right Side

Lake Geneva Wisconsin Post Office Mural 53147 Signature

Sources

Personal visit on 1/8/2012, 8/17/2013 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

LaGrange Indiana Post Office

January 1, 2012 By David W. Gates Jr.

ADDRESS: 300 S., Detroit St., LaGrange, Indiana 46761
ARTIST: Jessie Hull Mayer
TITLE: Corn School
MEDIUM: Oil on canvas (mural)
YEAR: 1941
STATUS: The LaGrange 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.

Stopping at the LaGrange post office made my day. This is one great post office.

When you first step into the building you notice the wooden vestibule. Once inside the lobby a great mural is displayed on the wall. Antique yellow glass lights hang from the ceiling.

Another great feature is the historic photographs on the wall. As I was taking pictures the postmaster appeared in the window. We talked for a few minutes, it was such a treat to meet her. As we were talking she mentioned her favorite post office. I’ve added it to the list.

I took lots of pictures but did not notice any dedication plaque. The corner stone on the exterior of the building has the date 1939. James A. Farley as postmaster general. John M. Carmody as the Federal Works Administrator. W Englebert Reynolds, Commissioner of Public Buildings. Louis A. Simon supervising architect and Neal A. Melick supervising engineer.

Thanks for reading,

David W. Gates Jr.