New Deal buildings or New Deal murals or artwork.

Fowler Indiana Post Office

October 8, 2021 By David W. Gates Jr.

ADDRESS: 114 S Madison Ave, Fowler, Indiana 47944
ARTIST: Nat Werner
TITLE: Resting during Prairie Plowing
MEDIUM: Cast stone (relief)
STATUS: The Fowler post office is still an active, operating facility, and the relief can be viewed by interested members of the public. It resides in the lobby on a wall above the postmaster’s door.
YEAR: 1940

To be honest, I had no idea the lobby was going to be open when I arrived in Fowler. My goal was to get a good photo of the exterior of the building and I achieved that during this trip on the 26th of September. However, since the lobby was also open, I was able to photograph the stone relief artwork.

Sadly, the ivy on the front facade of the building covers up the cornerstone. It was tempting to peel it away from the building, but I refrained form doing this. I’m guessing a winter visit may be in order to get the photograph of this one. IDK.

David W. Gates Jr.

Fowler IN Post Office 47944 Art Signature

Sources

Personal visit on 9/26/21 about 7:42 AM and 06/27/2023 about 10:58 AM by David W. Gates Jr., Post Office Fans
Indiana 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
United States Postal Service

Crown Point Indiana Post Office

October 7, 2021 By David W. Gates Jr.

ADDRESS: 128 S., East St., Crown Point, Indiana 46307
ARTIST: George Melville Smith
TITLE: From Such Beginnings Sprang the County of Lake
MEDIUM: Oil on canvas (mural)
STATUS: The Crown Point post office is still an active operating facility, and the mural can be viewed by interested memebers of the pubic. It resides in the lobby on a wall above the former postmaster’s door.
YEAR: 1938

Initially, I wasn’t planning on stopping at the Crown Point building. However, by the time I got here on a Sunday Morning at 6:11AM, the sun was just starting to rise. In addition when I checked the lobby doors, they were open. So low and behold, I spend a good amount of time here and photograph the mural, by the time I was ready to leave, I was able to get a few exterior photos of the outside. They are dark, but I also kind of like the mysterious look and feel to them.

Note to self: that cornerstone was hard to get. I had to hold back the branches using one hand and then try to photograph it with my other hands. When you revisit this one bring another set of hands or the kid to help out.

David W. Gates Jr.

Crown Point IN Post Office 46307 Mural Signature

Crown Point IN Post Office 46307 Mural Right

Crown Point IN Post Office 46307 Mural Left

Crown Point IN Post Office 46307 Cornerstone

Crown Point IN Post Office 46307 Mural Detail

Crown Point IN Post Office 46307 Mural Center

Crown Point IN Post Office 46307 Artifact

Sources

Personal visit on 9/26/21 about 6:10 AM and 12/12/2021 at 4:33 PM and 3/02/2022 at 4:36 PM and 06/27/2023 about 11:28 AM by David W. Gates Jr.
Indiana Post Office Mural Guidebook by David W. Gates Jr.
Chicago Tribune, New Deal-era mural restored for Park Ridge Library – Park Ridge Herald-Advocate (chicagotribune.com)
Smithsonian National Postal Museum, Indians Cede the Land | National Postal Museum (si.edu)
United States Postal Service
Indiana Landmarks, New Deal Left Its Stamp on Local Post Offices – Indiana Landmarks
(affiliate link) Democratic Vistas: Post Offices and Public Art in the New Deal: [Hardcover] Marlene Park, Gerald E. Markowitz
(affiliate link) A Simple and Vital Design: The Story of the Indiana Post Office Murals: John C. Carlisle

Wilmington Delaware Former Post Office

October 5, 2021 By David W. Gates Jr.

ADDRESS: 1100 N., Market St., Suite 1300, Wilmington, Delaware 19801
ARTIST: Albert Pels
TITLE: Landing of Swedens at The Rocks in Wilmington
MEDIUM: Oil and tempera (mural)
STATUS: The former Wilmington Delaware post office is no longer an active, operating facility. However, the mural can usually be viewed by interested members of the public during business hours. One mural resides east wall of the lobby and the other resides on the west wall of the lobby.
YEAR: 1938

ARTIST: Herman Zimmerman
TITLE: Chemistry and Industry, and Chemistry and Agriculture
MEDIUM: Oil on canvas (mural)
STATUS: The former Wilmington Delaware post office is no longer an active, operating facility. However, the mural can usually be viewed by interested members of the public during business hours. One mural resides east wall of the lobby and the other resides on the west wall of the lobby.
YEAR: 1938

This was the very last visit during my trip in August of 2021. It was getting late on Saturday and I knew the building was going to closed, but I had imagined I might be able to get some good exterior photos during non-business hours.

Sadly, even on Saturday evening there were cars in front of the building. I also had no idea if and when they would move. I was able to get some angle shots, the plaque, the cornerstone so that was nice.

While I was outside, a car pulled up and a lady stood at the front door. From what I could gather she was delivering food for someone. Eventually the front doors, opened and the lady walked in. Since the doors were timed, I followed the lady in. I’m not sure I was suppose to do that but, I figured that was my chance to get inside the building.

Well, the security guard was not amused and quickly inquired as to my reason for being there. I pleaded my case to and explained I was from out of town and I was interested in photographing the murals. When I walked in the building I could bitterly see them – one on either side of the large lobby.

I was denied several times, but kept pushing, with my very last case, I asked if I could photograph them from where I was standing and that I didn’t need to be close. (I wanted to get something). He reluctantly agreed and allowed me to photograph one shot of each mural from where I was standing.

I had to zoom in all the way with my phone to get the two images you see below. The lights in the lobby were turned off so even if I were to get closer to the murals, I knew they would be dark. So I was pretty satisfied with the two images I did manage to get.

This confirms the murals are still in the building, in their original location. That little bit pleased me enough. Besides I was exhausted and still needed to get to Columbia, MD for the night.

Successful trip!

David W. Gates Jr.