Parma Conservation

Grand Ledge Michigan Post Office

December 7, 2013 By David W. Gates Jr.

ADDRESS: 118 E. Jefferson St. Grand Ledge, Michigan, 48837
ARTIST: James Calder
TITLE: Waiting for the Mail
MEDIUM: Oil on canvas (mural)
STATUS: The Grand Ledge post offices is still an active, operating facility and the mural can be viewed by interested members of the public. The mural resides in the lobby on the wall above the postmaster’s door.
YEAR: 1938

Welcome to Grand Ledge, Michigan. It’s great to see a healthy and well maintained building. That sums up my observance of the Grand Ledge Post Office. Although it was a Sunday the lobby was open and I was able to view the mural. Even though it was from a distance because of the way the lobby is set up with the vestibule I was still able to get several photos of the mural.

I also found it rather amusing chasing after the corner-stone on this one. As you can see from the photos. It’s in the lower left corner of the building. What I noticed, is that over the years it appears they have built up some landscaping. I had to pat down some of the vegetation in order to get a clean shot of the corner-stone. Yes, that’s my tripod feet in one of corner-stone pictures. As I was doing this I imagine one day someone is going to stop me and ask what the heck I’m doing and why I’m in the bushes or flower beds. But for now I’m successfully documented another building. All for your pleasure of course.

Thanks,

David W. Gates Jr.

Grand Ledge Michigan Post Office Mural 48837 Left Side

Grand Ledge Michigan Post Office Mural 48837 Full

Grand Ledge Michigan Post Office 48837 Artifact

Grand Ledge Michigan Post Office 48837 Cornerstone

Grand Ledge Michigan Post Office Mural 48837 Detail

Grand Ledge Michigan Post Office Mural 48837 Center

Grand Ledge Michigan Post Office Mural 48837 Right Side

Grand-Ledge-MI-Post-Office-Mural-48837-Full-fix-scaled

Sources

Personal visit on 11/10/2013 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
Parma Conservation (https://parmaconservation.com)

Forest Park Illinois Post Office

November 16, 2013 By David W. Gates Jr.

ADDRESS: 417 Des Plains Avenue, Forest Park, Illinois, 60130
ARTIST: Miriam McKinnie (Hofmeier)
TITLE: The White Fawn
MEDIUM: Oil on canvas (mural)
STATUS: The Forest Park 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

Ever walk into the Forest Park, Illinois Post Office and ask yourself… “I wonder who painted the mural?” or, “I wonder what title of it is?. Well look no further. You’ve come to the right place.

I was only able to get these two photos of the mural before the lady at the counter stop me from taking any more. I was taken backed that it didn’t even occur to me that I should have said more, but I kept my mouth shut. I gave her my card and also got the phone number for the postmaster. I was instructed to call and ask for permission before taking any more photos. I’m pretty sure this is not necessary and I don’t want to cause any trouble so I just left. I figured since I live in the Chicago-Land area it won’t be that big of a deal to get back here again.

However, if you are the postmaster, and you happen upon this article, would it be ok to continue with documenting your building and mural? I’d really appreciate it.

But I want to hear from you? Have you ever wondered bout this mural? Do you know more about it? Please leave a comment below, I’d really like to know more about what you think about it?

Thanks,

David W. Gates Jr.

Forest Park Illinois Post Office Mural 60130 Full

Forest Park Illinois Post Office 60130 Cornerstone

Sources

Personal visit on 10/27/2013 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
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Forest Park Review

Oconomowoc Wisconsin Post Office

October 5, 2013 By David W. Gates Jr.

ADDRESS: 38 S. Main St. Oconomowoc, Wisconsin 53066
ARTIST: Edward Morton
TITLE: Winter Sports and Rabbit Hunters
MEDIUM: Oil on canvas (mural)
STATUS: The Oconomowoc Post Office is still active and the mural view- able by the public. It resides on the wall of the main lobby.
YEAR: 1938

What a cool mural! So for most of my visits, the artwork has been in the 1939 or 1940. This one however, was done in 1938, which I believe makes it one of the older ones out there. Pretty neat. Somewhere along the line I heard or read that this one was in storage for the longest time. Sometime in the 80’s or 90’s it was removed from the basement restored and placed back in the lobby.

Where did I hear this? Was this writing someplace? Do you happen to know? Please comment below.

Thanks,

David W. Gates Jr.