New Deal buildings or New Deal murals or artwork.

Westfield New Jersey Post Office

June 3, 2021 By David W. Gates Jr.

ADDRESS: 153 Central Ave., Westfield, New Jersey 07090
ARTIST: Roy Hilton
TITLE: The New Stagecoach and Building of Westfield
MEDIUM: Oil on canvas (murals) 2 panels
STATUS: The Westfield post office is still an active, operating facility, and one mural can be viewed by interested members of the public. It resides in the retail section of the lobby and is best viewed during business hours. The second mural Building of Westfield by Hilton has been reported missing, lost or destroyed.
YEAR: 1935

I arrived after business hours during my visit to Westfield. Luckily they keep the lobby open, however, the retail section where the mural is located is locked. You are able to see the mural through the glass vestibule.

I would have like to have better photos, all the ones you see below were taken through the glass. Not the best option but, as you know by now, my time in New Jersey was limited, and I needed to get what I could during this trip.

After seeing the historical photo of one of the murals, I’m wondering what kind of renovation took place years ago. It appears there was some great woodwork that surrounded the postmasters door just below the Stagecoach mural.

The so-called renovations must have remove this wonderful woodwork. In addition this so-called restoration must have destroyed the second mural. Sad, this visit left me wondering if anyone else has historic photos of the second mural Building of Westfield? Please comment below.

I’m told when the lobby was remodeled the contractor never put the mural back up when the work was done. This leaves me with more questions than answers. Is the mural still in the building? Did the contractor take the mural? Was it sent off for restoration?

UPDATE

I stopped in Westfield again during my August 2021 road trip. When I visited in May the retail section of the lobby was closed and I could only view the mural through the glass. Even though I took some decent pictures through the glass, I was super excited to get better pictures during my August trip.

It was also a pleasant trip chatting with the local clerks. We left wondering what happened to the second mural. Rumor has it, that the mural was destroyed during the lobby remodel years ago.

David W. Gates Jr.

Sources

Personal visit on 5/22/21 about 1:08 PM and 8/12/2021 about 1:26 PM by David W. Gates Jr.
(affiliate link) New Jersey Post Office Mural Guidebook by David W. Gates Jr.
United States Postal Service
NJ.com N.J. post offices showcase Depression-era public art – nj.com
(affiliate link) Democratic Vistas: Post Offices and Public Art in the New Deal: [Hardcover] Marlene Park, Gerald E. Markowitz

Garfield New Jersey Post Office

June 3, 2021 By David W. Gates Jr.

ADDRESS: 254 Palisade Ave., Garfield, New Jersey 07026
ARTIST: Robert Laurent
TITLE: Transportation of the Mail
MEDIUM: Stone (sculpture)
STATUS: The Garfield post office is still an active, operating facility, and the sculpture can be viewed by interested members of the public. It resides in the main lobby on the wall above the postmaster’s door.
YEAR: 1935

I made two visits to Garfield, the first was very early in the morning (6:13AM). The sun was just coming up so the photos are dark. They don’t keep the lobby open either so I was not able to get inside at this early hour. I ended up circling back to this one later in the day(2:15PM) to get the sculpture and better exterior photos.

Disappointing again to see the light fixture so close and so far down from the ceiling. This made it extremely difficult to photograph with having a weird angle and light fixture in the picture. I did my best.

Little did i know that there is also a signature on the bottom right corner. I didn’t notice this until after I got home and started going through my photos. It’s very difficult to see from below. You have to know it is there and then zoom in with a camera to see it. Lucky for me I did just that. Enjoy!

David W. Gates Jr.

Sources

Personal visit on 5/20/2021 about 6:12 AM & 2:12 PM by David W. Gates Jr.
(affiliate link) New Jersey 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

Hammonton New Jersey Post Office

June 3, 2021 By David W. Gates Jr.

ADDRESS: 114 S. 3rd St., Hammonton, New Jersey 08037
ARTIST: Spero Anagyros
TITLE: Harvest
MEDIUM: Stone (sculpture)
STATUS: The Hammonton post office is still an active, operating facility, however, the sculpture has been reported lost, missing or destroyed. The sculpture previously resided in the lobby above the postmaster’s door.
YEAR: 1940

Loving the wonderful weather I had the day I photographed the Hammonton building. Although I’m sad to not find out any further information regarding the fate of this sculpture. If anyone else has further information regarding this piece I’d love to hear from you. Please leave a comment below.

The National Archives does have the original images taken when the work was completed. But that’s about all I have.

David W. Gates Jr.