Parma Conservation

Mount Sterling Illinois Post Office

September 19, 2015 By David W. Gates Jr.

ADDRESS: 130 West Main Street, Mount Sterling, Illinois, 62353
ARTIST: Henry Berstein
TITLE: The Covered Bridge
MEDIUM: Tempera (mural)
STATUS: The Mount Sterling 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: 1941

Sometimes it rains when I’m out trying to photograph post offices. I took a chance during this road trip, I knew there was a slight change of rain before I headed out for the day. I was hoping the weather would cooperate but alas it did not. Just part of the challenges in this line of work.

It really excites me when I discover a building has artifacts on display. Mount Sterling is lucky enough to have several old photos of the building when it was constructed. There is also a nice letter inside the bulletin board case. Not every building is has this so it is a real treat to see. This is also one of the delightful things we doing site visits.

My experience reveled it’s usually a postal worker or local historical society that takes and interest and works to get these artifacts on display. What is your experience? Have you assisted in getting old artifacts on display in your post office? I’d love to hear about it. Please comment and share below.

Thanks,

David W. Gates Jr.

Mount Sterling Illinois Post Office 62353

Mount Sterling Illinois Post Office 62353 Corner Stone

Mount Sterling Illinois Post Office Mural 62353 Center

Mount Sterling Illinois Post Office Mural 62353 Detail

Mount Sterling IIllinoisL Post Office Mural 62353 Detail

Mount Sterling Illinois Post Office Mural 62353 Full

Mount Sterling Illinois Post Office Mural 62353 Left Side

Mount Sterling Illinois Post Office 62353 Artifacts

Mount Sterling Illinois Post Office Mural 62353 Signature

Mount Sterling Illinois Post Office Mural 62353 Right Side

Sources

Personal visit on 4/03/2015 by David W. Gates Jr.
Illinois Post Office Mural Guidebook
United States Postal Service
Democratic Vistas: Post Offices and Public Art in the New Deal: [Hardcover] Marlene Park, Gerald E. Markowitz
Parma Conservation

Rushville Illinois Post Office

September 5, 2015 By David W. Gates Jr.

ADDRESS: 101 East Washington, Street, Rushville, Illinois, 62681
ARTIST: Rainey Bennett
TITLE: Hart Fellows
MEDIUM: Oil on canvas (mural)
STATUS: The Rushville 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: 1940

The unique feature of this mural is that it depicts the first post office in a general store in Rushville. This speaks to a time when a general store provided a place people could catch up with their neighbors. You could head over to the general store pickup some sugar or flour and then send out a postcard to loved one’s.

The mural also represents a time when life was slower and less distracted. People had time to chat with their neighbor or talk to a store clerk and learn about their family. I imagine the ladies in town chatting about the local gossip in Rushville.

Anyway, this is my best description and thoughts about the Rushville mural. What are your thoughts regarding this one? Please comment and share below.

Thanks,

David W. Gates Jr.

Rushville Illinois Post Office Mural 62681 Lobby

Rushville Illinois Post Office Mural 62681 Signature

Rushville Illinois Post Office Mural 62681 Right Side

Rushville Illinois Post Office Mural 62681 Detail

Rushville Illinois Post Office Mural 62681 Full

Rushville Illinois Post Office Mural 62681 Left Side

Rushville Illinois Post Office Mural 62681 Center

Rushville Illinois Post Office 62681 Artifact

Rushville Illinois Post Office 62681 Cornerstone

Rushville Illinois Post Office 62681 Lobby

Sources

Personal visit on 4/3/2015 by David W. Gates Jr.
https://bookshop.org/shop/postofficefansIllinois Post Office Mural Guidebook
United States Postal Service
Democratic Vistas: Post Offices and Public Art in the New Deal: [Hardcover] Marlene Park, Gerald E. Markowitz
Parma Conservation
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Smithsonian

Lewistown Illinois Post Office

August 22, 2015 By David W. Gates Jr.

ADDRESS: 301 North Main Street, Lewistown, Illinois, 61542
ARTIST: Ida Abelman
TITLE: Lewistown Milestone
MEDIUM: Tempera (mural)
STATUS: The Lewistown post office is still an active, operating facility and the mural can be viewed by interested members of the pubic. It resides in the lobby on the wall above the postmaster’s door.
YEAR: 1941

When I hear people talk about Illinois the first thing that comes to mind is Abraham Lincoln. In fact Springfield has a great museum dedicated to Lincoln. So when I visited Lewistown, it was natural to see him as the central figure in the mural.

I had a pleasant visit to Lewistown, I enjoyed talking to the clerk on duty. It became clear how proud he was of the building as he spoke of the mural and artifacts that were on display in the lobby. It surprised me how he mentioned all these items were just sitting in the basement. I can’t help to think and wonder how many other buildings have stuff just sitting around that would make great displays.

Surprising he was also aware of the Hudson WI building being converted to a restaurant. It was refreshing to speak to someone else with an interest in these great buildings. Your name escapes me now but Thank you for the great conversation.

Update October 30, 2016

As I”m going through my little notebook, I found this entry from my Lewistown visit. Apparently, I made a few notes, but never included them here. See, during my visits I carry this notebook, but when I created an article here, I don’t always have my notebook with me. So this little bit of information never made it to this article. So I’m including it here.

During the conversation I had with the local clerk, he mentioned a local person had taken the old counter top. The vestibule is no longer present in the building and if I remember correctly he mentioned the local historical society has it? This is one thing I”ll need to follow-up with. Unless anyone out there has more information the fate of the original vestibule that once resided in this building.

I also made a note the clerk said something about the original steps being pink granite and that they were removed during a renovation of the building many years back. He mentioned there used to be some pink steps in the basement. I wonder if they are still there? Move food for thought as I review my notes.

Thanks,

David W. Gates Jr.