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You are here: Home / Archives for Plaster Relief

Plaster Relief

Plaster Relief

Caldwell New Jersey Post Office

May 28, 2021 By David W. Gates Jr.

Caldwell New Jersey Post Office 07006
Caldwell New Jersey Post Office 07006

ADDRESS: 10 Park Ave., Caldwell, New Jersey 07006
ARTIST: Brenda Putnam
TITLE: Sorting the Mail
MEDIUM: Plaster (lunette)
STATUS: The Caldwell post office is still an active, operating facility. However, the lunette has been reported to have been removed from this facility and placed in the West Caldwell facility on Clinton Road. It formally resided in the lobby on the wall above the postmaster’s door.
YEAR: 1934

 

I must have waited around for about 5 minutes to see if the car in front of the building was going to move. I had already been inside, so I knew the guy sitting in there was not waiting for anyone.

It was getting hot out and I didn’t feel like waiting any longer so I kindly asked the guy if he wouldn’t mind moving so I could get a good picture of the building. He was more than happy to move and help out. I’m just glad no other cars decided to park right after he moved. I got my unobstructed photo and was on my way.

After speaking with the postal clerks, I’m told there are plans to rededicate the art at the newer building, but this never happened due to COVID. As of the writing of this article, it is unsure when a rededication ceremony will take place.

This makes for another good story, can I time this ceremony with another visit to New Jersey to complete my tour? Only time will tell, and the story continues.

David W. Gates Jr.

Caldwell New Jersey Post Office 07006
Caldwell New Jersey Post Office 07006 Lobby
Caldwell New Jersey Post Office 07006 Cornerstone
Caldwell New Jersey Post Office 07006
Caldwell New Jersey Post Office 07006
Caldwell New Jersey Post Office 07006
Caldwell New Jersey Post Office 07006
Caldwell New Jersey Post Office Relief
Caldwell New Jersey Post Office Relief
Caldwell New Jersey Post Office 07006
Caldwell New Jersey Post Office 07006
Caldwell New Jersey Post Office 07006
Caldwell New Jersey Post Office Relief
West Caldwell NJ Post Office 07006 Covered Art
West Caldwell NJ Relief
West Caldwell NJ Relief
West Caldwell NJ Relief

“Used with the permission of the United States Postal Service®. All rights reserved.”

Sources

  • Personal visit on 5/20/2021 about 11:20 AM by David W. Gates Jr.
  • (affiliate link) New Jersey Post Office Mural Guidebook by David W. Gates Jr.
  • United States Postal Service
  • National Archives Records and Administration
  • (affiliate link) Democratic Vistas: Post Offices and Public Art in the New Deal: [Hardcover]  Marlene Park, Gerald E. Markowitz
  • The Progress: Historic sculpture unveiled at West Caldwell Post Office | The Progress gallery | newjerseyhills.com
  • New Jersey Hills Media Group: West Caldwell Post Office ceremony | | newjerseyhills.com

Filed Under: Artist, Artwork, Cornerstone, New Deal, New Jersey Tagged With: Artist, Artwork, Brenda Putnam, Cornerstone, New Deal, New Jersey, Plaster Relief

Westwood New Jersey Post Office

May 28, 2021 By David W. Gates Jr.

Westwood New Jersey Post Office 07675
Westwood New Jersey Post Office 07675

ADDRESS: 216 Westwood Ave., Westwood, New Jersey 07675
ARTIST: Hunt Diederich
TITLE: Pegasus with Messenger
MEDIUM: Plaster/metal (sculpture)
STATUS: The Westwood post office is still an active, operating facility. However, it has been reported the relief is missing, lost or destroyed. It previously resided in the lobby above the postmaster’s door.
YEAR: 1938

May 18th – 23rd, of 2021 I visited New Jersey. The purpose of my trip was to personally visit the Fort Lee post office before it is lost forever.

Westwood was another stop during my visit to New Jersey. I’m sad the artwork is no longer here. I’d love to find out more about it. So far any research I’ve uncovered, mentions it missing, lost or destroyed.

I’m also finding the medium of this a bit confusing. Most sources mention this as being a metal relief. However, if you check the archives photos, it looks like a plaster cast. But maybe the cast was used to create the metal relief. I’m not 100% sure.

If you have the answers to these questions, by all means please leave a comment below.

Thanks,

David W. Gates Jr.

“Used with the permission of the United States Postal Service®. All rights reserved.”

Sources

  • Personal visit on 5/20/21 about 8:23 AM by David W. Gates Jr.
  • (affiliate link) New Jersey Post Office Mural Guidebook by David W. Gates Jr.
  • United States Postal Service (NJ Post Office dedication to honor Marine Sgt Christopher R. Hrbek (usps.com))
  • United States Postal Service
  • North Jersey (‘He cares about everyone’: Westwood mailman retires after 48 years on same route (msn.com)
  • National Archives Records and Administration
  • NJ.com N.J. post offices showcase Depression-era public art – nj.com
  • Docs Teach (“Pegasus with Messenger” Sculpture, Westwood, NJ Post Office by Hunt Diederich | DocsTeach)
  • (affiliate link) Democratic Vistas: Post Offices and Public Art in the New Deal: [Hardcover]  Marlene Park, Gerald E. Markowitz

Filed Under: Artist, Artwork, Cornerstone, Honor Plaque, New Deal, New Jersey, Post Office Tagged With: Artist, Artwork, Cornerstone, Honor Plaque, Hunt Diederich, New Deal, New Jersey, Plaster Relief, Post Office

Scottsboro Alabama Post Office

October 8, 2018 By Roger

Scottsboro AL Post Office 35768 R1
Scottsboro AL Post Office 35768 R1

ADDRESS: 101 S. Market St., Scottsboro, Alabama, 35768
ARTIST: Constance Ortmayer
TITLE: Alabama Agriculture
MEDIUM: Plaster (cast/relief)
STATUS: The Scottsboro post office is still an active, operating facility, and the relief can be viewed by interested members of the pubic. The relief resides in the lobby above the postmaster’s door.
Year: 1940

David,

The current Scottsboro, Alabama post office is a nice example of a New Deal post office. Section of Fine Arts three section plaster relief entitled “Alabama Agriculture” installed in 1940 by Constance Ortmayer. The building was completed in 1938.  The folks at the post office had some great photographs of the building being constructed.  Some say the early spark of the Civil Rights movement started at the Scottsboro Courthouse during the trials of The Scottsboro Boys in the 1930s. The Courthouse is located a short walk from the post office.

The juxtaposition of the horse & cart with the automobile is a good example of the ongoing growth of the automobile in the 1930s.

Best regards,

Roger

Scottsboro AL Post Office 35768 Roger
Scottsboro AL Post Office 35768 Roger
Scottsboro AL Post Office 35768 Roger
Scottsboro AL Post Office 35768 Roger
Scottsboro AL Post Office 35768 Roger
Scottsboro AL Post Office 35768 Roger
Scottsboro AL Post Office 35768 Roger
Scottsboro AL Post Office 35768 Roger
Scottsboro AL Post Office 35768 Roger
Scottsboro AL Post Office 35768 Roger
Scottsboro AL Post Office 35768 Roger
Scottsboro AL Post Office 35768 Roger
Scottsboro AL Post Office 35768 Roger
Scottsboro AL Post Office 35768 Roger
Scottsboro AL Post Office 35768 Roger
Scottsboro AL Post Office 35768 Roger
Scottsboro AL Post Office 35768 Roger
Scottsboro AL
Scottsboro AL Art

“Used with the permission of the United States Postal Service®. All rights reserved.”

Sources

  • Personal visit by Roger
  • United States Postal Service

Filed Under: Alabama, Artifacts, Artist, Artwork, Cornerstone, Guest Post, New Deal, Post Office Tagged With: Alabama, Artifacts, Artist, Artwork, Constance Ortmayer, Cornerstone, Guest Post, New Deal, Plaster Relief, Post Office

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