New Deal buildings or New Deal murals or artwork.

Indianapolis Former Post Office and Courthouse Birch Bayh Federal Building

October 4, 2021 By David W. Gates Jr.

ADDRESS: 46 E. Ohio St., Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
ARTIST: Grant Wright Christian & Reynold Selfridge
TITLE: Mail, Transportation and Delivery, Culture & Education, Safety Patrol, To Those Who Served, Early & Present Day Indianapolis Life
MEDIUM: Oil on canvas (murals) 9 panels
STATUS: The Indiana Post Office and Courthouse no longer houses the United States Postal Service. However, the building is still an active Federal building with GSA, Marshall and Courtrooms present.
YEAR: 1936

ADDRESS: 46 E. Ohio St., Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
ARTIST: David K. Rubins
TITLE: Distribution of the Mail
MEDIUM: Limestone (reliefs)
STATUS: The Indiana Post Office and Courthouse no longer houses the United States Postal Service. However, the building is still an active Federal building with GSA, Marshall and Courtrooms present.
YEAR: 1936

My recent visit to Indianapolis was to visit the Indiana Historical Society. I was looking to get some preliminary research done for the Indiana post office murals. The historical society is only open until 5:00 PM which left me time to walk over the Birch Bayh Federal building.

This is a great looking building and it also have some great statutes on the exterior of the building. Since it was a weekend, I didn’t even try to get inside to view the murals, and since that wasn’t the purpose of my trip anyway.

I’ll plan another trip to Indianapolis in the future, but for now here are some exterior images of this magnificent Building.

David W. Gates Jr.

Indianapolis Birch Bayh 46204 Agriculture

Indianapolis Birch Bayh 46204 Cornerstone

Indianapolis Birch Bayh 46204 Bill of Rights Plaque

Indianapolis Birch Bayh 46204 Literature

Indianapolis Birch Bayh 46204 Literature Plaque

Indianapolis Birch Bayh 46204 Justice Plaque

Indianapolis Birch Bayh 46204 Industry Plaque

Indianapolis Birch Bayh 46204 Agriculture Plaque

Sources

Personal visit on 9/18/21 about 5:05 PM by David W. Gates Jr.
Indiana Post Office Mural Guidebook by David W. Gates Jr.
U.S. General Services Administration (Birch Bayh Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse | GSA)
Birch Bayh Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse, Indianapolis, IN | GSA
(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
Indy Star: https://www.indystar.com/story/news/history/retroindy/2019/09/26/retroindy-depression-era-wpa-created-indianapolis-landmarks-and-put-hoosiers-work-fdr/2377606001/

Pocomoke City Maryand Post Office

October 2, 2021 By David W. Gates Jr.

ADDRESS: 207 Market St, Pocomoke City, MD 21851
ARTIST: Perna Krick
TITLE: Power of Communication
MEDIUM: Wood (relief)
STATUS: The Pocomoke City post office is still an active, operating facility, and the relief can be viewed by interested members of the public. It resides in the retail section of the lobby on the wall above the postmaster’s door. It is best viewed during business hours as the retail section is locked during non-business hours.
YEAR: 1939

During my trip in August of 2021, I had some extra time. So drove through Delaware and since Pocomoke City is near the border I decided to grab this on during my trip.

The lobby is open, but the retail section is closed during non-business hours. I wasn’t able to get good pictures of the wood relief, but I did mange to get a few through the window.

I wasn’t to disappointed as I knew this stop was a bonus. After all I had already gotten what I needed from New Jersey during this particular trip. I’m delighted the weather was great from some good exterior photos.

Note to self, visit during business hours.

David W. Gates Jr.

Sources

Personal visit on 8/14/21 about 1:30 PM by David, Post Office Fans
(affiliate link) Democratic Vistas: Post Offices and Public Art in the New Deal: [Hardcover] Marlene Park, Gerald E. Markowitz
United States Postal Service

New Castle Delaware Post Office

October 1, 2021 By David W. Gates Jr.

ADDRESS: 501 Delaware St, New Castle, DE 19720
ARTISTS: J. Scott Williams
TITLE: William Penn Welcomed at New Castle
MEDIUM: Oil on canvas (mural)
STATUS: The New Castle 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: 1938

Check out all those overgrown bushes in the from the building. Why do I point that out? Well, because there is a cornerstone somewhere behind them.

And yes, this one was tricky to photograph. I did end up crawling into the bushes to photograph the cornerstone. Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.

I’m delighted the building is in such great shape and well cared for. These are just some of the things I notice as I drive around Delaware. It seems the older buildings have been well preserved and that makes me happy.

David W. Gates Jr.