New Deal buildings or New Deal murals or artwork.

Rensselaer Indiana Post Office

September 21, 2021 By David W. Gates Jr.

ADDRESS: 225 S Van Rensselaer St, Rensselaer, Indiana 47978
ARTIST: John Edward Costigan
TITLE: Receiving the Mail on the Farm
MEDIUM: Oil on canvas (mural)
STATUS: The Rensselaer post office is still an active operating facility and the mural can be viewed by interested members of the public. The mural resides on the wall in the lobby above the postmaster’s door.
YEAR: 1937

Rensselaer was another stop during my recent road trip through Indiana. It was early and the sun raisers behind the building. Making my photographs darker than I like.

Note to self, if you visit again, try to time this in the afternoon when the sun is shining on the front of the building.

David W. Gates Jr.

Rensselaer IN Post Office 47978 Cornerstone

Rensselaer IN Post Office 47978 Mural Center

Rensselaer IN Post Office 47978 Mural Signature

Rensselaer IN Post Office 47978 Mural Right

Rensselaer IN Post Office 47978 Mural Left

Rensselaer IN Post Office 47978 Mural Full

Rensselaer IN Post Office 47978 Mural Detail

Sources

Personal visit on 9/18/21 about 7:30 AM and 03/02/2022 at 3:49 PM and 06/27/2023 about 11:15 AM by David, Post Office Fans
Indiana Post Office Mural Guidebook by David W. Gates Jr.
Indiana Landmarks (New Deal Left Its Stamp on Local Post Offices – Indiana Landmarks)
Rensselaer Adventures Rensselaer Adventures: Post Office Mural
(affiliate link) Democratic Vistas: Post Offices and Public Art in the New Deal: [Hardcover] Marlene Park, Gerald E. Markowitz
United States Postal Service
(affiliate link) A Simple and Vital Design: The Story of the Indiana Post Office Murals: John C. Carlisle

Elkton Maryland Post Office

August 27, 2021 By David W. Gates Jr.

ADDRESS: 137 W Main St, Elkton, Maryland 21921
ARTIST: Alexander B. Clayton
TITLE: Arrival of the Post, 1780
MEDIUM: Oil on canvas (mural)
STATUS: Unknown, The Living New Deal mentions the mural was restored and resided in the basement. However, when I visited in August 2021, the current postmaster had no clue as to the whereabouts of the mural. Yes, I did speak to him twice during this visit.
YEAR: 1939

I specifically stopped din Elkton as I knew this was one building that had a mural at one time. After some basic research I discovered the mural is not currently on display. I wanted to visit during business hours to inquire about it.

Turns out the postmaster had no idea where the mural was. He also mentioned nothing in the basement. This is all curious as LND has it listed as having been restored but not on display.

As info, I visited on August 10, 2021 about 1:25 PM. You will also notice from various photos the landscaping in front of the building. I’ve got this one on my radar to do more research. However, if you have further information regarding this one please comment below.

David W. Gates Jr.

Sources

Personal visit on 8/10/21 about 1:25 PM by David W. Gates Jr.
United States Postal Service

West Caldwell New Jersey Post Office

August 25, 2021 By David W. Gates Jr.

ADDRESS: 155 Clinton Rd, Caldwell, New Jersey 07006
ARTIST: Brenda Putnam
TITLE: Sorting the Mail
MEDIUM: Plaster (lunette)
STATUS: The Caldwell post office on Park Ave. is still an active, operating facility. However, the lunette was moved from its original location to the West Caldwell facility here on Clinton Road. It formally resided in the lobby on the wall above the postmaster’s door.
YEAR: 1934

When I went looking for the mural in Caldwell, I visited the original building on Park Ave. When I arrived in May of this year, I was told the art had been removed from the building. The clerk I spoke to mentioned it was being installed in the newer post office on Clinton road.

At the time I had not planned on an extra visit, so I did not visit the West Caldwell post office until my second trip in August of 2021. When I arrived, the clerk mentioned the art has been restored and covered up. The postal service was going to hold a dedication ceremony in 2020, however, due to the COVID pandemic, the celebrations were canceled. However, the art is still covered up.

When I visited in August, I was hoping that by the time I arrived it would have been dedicated and on display. Sadly this was not the case. The art is still coved up and no matter how hard I tried to get the clerk to let me see it, I was denied.

That is ashamed. I was really hoping to see this one and to photograph is during this visit. Another time my friend, another time. I did meet a nice lady who mentioned, that once the art is revealed she would take a picture and send it to me. I promptly provided my business card. I hope she remembers when it gets uncovered.

Thanks,

David W. Gates Jr.