New Deal buildings or New Deal murals or artwork.

Former Nashville Tennessee Post Office

March 14, 2015 By David W. Gates Jr.

ADDRESS: 901 Broadway, Nashville, Tennessee, 37202
ARTIST: Belle Kinney
TITLE: Portrait Bust of Admiral Albert Gleaves
MEDIUM: Bronze (portrait bust)
STATUS: The bronze bust no longer resides here. It can be found in the courthouse and can be viewed by interested members of the public.
YEAR: 1940

UPDATE!! January 2015

Prior to arriving in Nashville I had learned the was a portrait bust that was once located here. At the time my sources mentioned it was in the courthouse and other’s mentioned it may be in the side entrance of this building where their post office window is. So naturally I had to find out. However, the post office was closed on the Sunday when I arrived. Since my other sources mentioned the court-house we drove over there, but once again because it was a Sunday the court-house was closed.

Fast forward to December and I was able to visit again. This time it was a weekday and the court-house was opened. I decided NOT to head to the post office at the Frist Center but to just head over to the court-house. So I parked my car and feed the parking meter and headed up the ton of stairs that lead up not only to the court-house but also since I was below the court-yard there was another ton of stairs just to get to the court-yard and parking lot around the building.

Exhausted already I went inside and was greeted by a nice security guard that told me I needed a photo id in order to enter the building. I have it right here I said as I was reaching for my pocket. Wait, crap I don’t have my wallet with me. “The security guard” I’m sorry you need a photo id in order to enter the building.

So I left and ran down all the stairs, went to my card grabbed my wallet and stormed up the stairs again. This time much more slowly, damn I’m really out of shape. By the time I got to the entrance with the security guard I was soaking wet from the perspiration and running up the stairs.

I found the Portrait bust on the second floor stair landing in the court-house. Since I needed a break, I casually took my photos and took a look around the building. I was completely amazed at all the art work and history in this building. It really is pretty cool to visit the court-rooms and chambers.

The Portrait bust of Albert Gleaves is now located in the Nashville Court-house.

***Original Post below***

I had not planned on stopping here in September of 2014, but since we were driving right through Nashville, we decided to stop, and I’m glad we did. Since I’ve started visiting post offices, I’ve become really good at spotting the buildings I’m looking for. So you can imagine my excitement when I first saw this massive building on Broadway. It truly is an impressive building and I’m equally impressed the Center for Visual Arts has re-purposed this building so beautifully.

The building was converted to the Frist Center For The Visual Arts a number of years ago. The post office does occupy a small retail counter on the side of the building. The address still appears on the USPS website. So that makes this article a bit more challenging to write. If you notice, I have two categories of classifying buildings. One is for “Former Post Offices” and another category for “Current” Post Office. I’m including both categories for the Nashville post office.

I love this building and took a lot of photographs of the exterior and interior. Since it was free to go inside the lobby and gift store I roamed around admiring the impressive lobby, the old metal doors, the decorative metal squares of various subject. There is so much to see and so much detail I was really delighted we took the time to take it all in.

What impressed me even more is that the gift store sells a book (affiliate link): From Post Office to Art Center: A Nashville Landmark in Transition

It talks about the Art Centers purchase of the historic building and converting it to the art center it is today. A recommended read if you are at all interested in this beautiful old building.

Thanks,

David W. Gates Jr.

Former Nashville Tennessee Post Office 37202

Sources

Personal visit on 9/14/2014 and 12/23/2014 by David W. Gates Jr.
Tennessee Post Office Murals by David W. Gates Jr.
Tennessee 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
Frist Center Online (https://fristartmuseum.org)
(affiliate link): From Post Office to Art Center: A Nashville Landmark in Transition
National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places, Reference Number (84000580).
National Archives Records and Administration Identifier Number (135816616).

Former Newport Tennessee Post Office

February 21, 2015 By David W. Gates Jr.

ADDRESS: 219 E. Broadway Street, Newport, Tennessee, 37821
ARTIST: Minna Citron
TITLE: TVA Power
MEDIUM: Oil on canvas (mural)
STATUS: The murals no longer resides in the original building shown here. They were moved to the Newport Community Center on Cosby Highway. The murals are located in the second floor museum. They are only viewable during very limited volunteer hours.
YEAR: 1940

After I finished my visit at the newer post office I headed over to the former Newport building. Anyone familiar with the older buildings knows its easy to spot. It’s the classic square boxy shape. Has two lamps on either side of the staircase and a half circle above the door. But you won’t find the mural here. Nope! according to my research it has been moved to Newport Community Center. Inside the community center is the Cocke County Museum where the mural resides.

By the time we had figured this out we were not able to visit the museum. Further more, I’ve also discovered the museum is only open one day a week and for limited hours. Go figure! How does that jive with making the art accessible? Anyway, another time and another place, I’ll be back to hopefully seen this one. To be honest I was reluctant to post this one since I didn’t have the artwork to include in this article. But I when I first started this blog I was more concerned with getting a good exterior picture of the building. I’ve achieved that so I decided to post this article. Hopefully, I have it before this article goes live. Yes, I was able to get the mural photos before this article posted. Please see the update below.

When I was talking to the man at the newer building he mentioned he knew the owner of the building. It also occurred to me that the post office may have vacated and sold this building many years ago. Here is why, at some point federal law required all buildings to be ADA compliant. Many of these older buildings had to be retrofitted with ramps in front of the buildings to accommodate persons with disabilities. This building does not have a ramp which lead me to believe it may have been sold prior the law being enforced for older buildings.

What can you tell me about it? Are my assumptions correct? Now that I think about it maybe there is a ramp in the back of the building. I don’t recall seeing one but you never know. Please comment below if you know more about this building.

Former Newport Tennessee Post Office 37821

Former Newport Tennessee Post Office 37821 Cornerstone

UPDATE January 2015

I found the murals, scheduled a visit, and photographed them. This was actually in December but I’m just getting around to updating this post in January. It’s actually 4 separate panels I’ve labeled each panel 1, panel 2, panel 3 etc. The biggest question I have for everyone now is this: Where inside the building where the murals installed? See I can tell by panel 1 that this was above the postmasters office door as it has the classic missing square at the bottom of the mural. This is because the mural came down past the door on either side.

So if that is the case which walls were the other 3 panels installed? I like to see picture of when this building was a post office and when the art was installed. Anyone out there have such images? Please comment and share below.

The mural is no longer at the building on Broadway. It has been moved to the Newport community center. There is a small museum on the second floor. I scheduled an appointment and a volunteer meet me there. Special thanks to Jane and the museum for taking time out your day.

Thanks,

David W. Gates Jr.

Former Newport Tennessee Post Office Mural 37821

Former Newport Tennessee Post Office Mural 37821 Full

Former Newport Tennessee Post Office Mural 37821 Panel

Sources

Personal visit on 9/04/2014 by David W. Gates Jr.
Tennessee Post Office Murals by David W. Gates Jr.
Tennessee 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
(affiliate link): Tennessee Post Office Murals: Howard Hull
The Newport Main Talk (https://www.newportplaintalk.com/news/article_574e3e8e-f22e-11e3-89ad-001a4bcf887a.html?mode=image&photo=0)

Oglesby Illinois Post Office

January 31, 2015 By David W. Gates Jr.

ADDRESS: 203 West Walnut Street, Oglesby, Illinois, 61348
ARTIST: Fay Elizabeth Davis
TITLE: The Illini and Pottawatomies Struggle at Starved Rock
MEDIUM: Oil on canvas (mural)
STATUS: The Oglesby post office is still an active, operating facility, and the mural can be viewed by interested members of the public. It mural resides in the lobby on the wall above the postmaster’s door.
YEAR: 1942

This happens to be a larger example of the murals found in our Nation’s post offices. It represents the struggle between the Illini and Pottawatomies at Starved Rock. If you ever get the chance to visit Starved Rock, I’d recommend stopping in for a quick look at this treasure.

I took a lot of detail pictures of this one. I really wanted to give you a feel/view of what this looks like. In doing this I also discovered the mural is starting to warp in a few places. I wonder if this one will ever be repaired or restored? If you have any information in regards to this mural, I’d like to hear from you. Please comment below.

Thanks,

David W. Gates Jr.