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You are here: Home / Archives for Ruth Grotenrath

Ruth Grotenrath

Post offices that have artwork by the artists Ruth Grotenrath

Wisconsin Post Office Mural Artists

October 18, 2017 By David W. Gates Jr.

Artist Frank Buffmire - Black River Falls Post Office Mural
Artist Frank Buffmire – Black River Falls Post Office Mural

A total of twenty-eight artist created murals in thirty-five Wisconsin Post Office buildings during the Great Depression of the 1930s. Seven of the artist received multiple commissions as noted below. The artist and their awarded sites as listed below.

We have found having a list such as this is convenient when performing research at the National Archives Records and Administration. Any researcher will reveal, that finding information is part of the fun, somethings what you are looking for is catalogued by the artist name. Other times the research materials you need may be cataloged by the city or town, and so on.

Having a list to refer to is helpful on your journey of discovering these wonderful treasures in our nations post offices.

Wisconsin Post Office Mural Artists

  1. Berlin – Raymond Redell*
  2. Black River Falls – Frank Buffmire
  3. Chilton – Charles W Thwaites*
  4. Columbus – Arnold Blanch
  5. De Pere – Lester W Bentley
  6. Edgerton – Vladimir Rousseff*
  7. Elkhorn – Tom Rost*
  8. Fond du Lac – Boris Gilbertson*
  9. Hartford– Ethel Spears
  10. Hayward – Stella E Harlos
  11. Hudson – Ruth Grotenrath
  12. Janesville – Boris Gilbertson*
  13. Kaukauna – Vladimir Rousseff*
  14. Kewaunee – Paul Faulkner
  15. Ladysmith – Elsa Jemne
  16. Lake Geneva – George A Dietrich
  17. Lancaster – Tom Rost*
  18. Mayville – Peter Roiter*
  19. Milwaukee – Frances Foy
  20. Neillsville – John Van Koert
  21. Oconomowoc – Edward Morton
  22. Park Falls – James Waltrous
  23. Plymouth – Charles W Thwaites*
  24. Prairie Du Chien – Jefferson E Greer
  25. Reedsburg – Richard Jansen
  26. Rice Lake – Forest Flower*
  27. Richland Center – Richard Brooks
  28. Shawano – Eugene Higgins
  29. Sheboygan – Schomer Lichtner
  30. Stoughton – Edmund D Lewandoski
  31. Sturgeon Bay – Santos Zingle
  32. Viroqua – Forrest Flower*
  33. Waupaca – Raymond Redell*
  34. Wausau – Gerritt Sinclair
  35. West Bend – Peter Roiter*

There are a total of  28 artist that were commissioned artwork in Wisconsin in regards to post offices.

A few of the artists received multiple commissions and have art in more than one building. The following artists have two or more murals in Wisconsin.

  • Raymond Redell – Berlin and Wapaca
  • Charles W Thwaities – Chilton and Plymouth
  • Vladimir Rousseff – Edgerton and Kaukauna
  • Tom Rost – Elkhorn and Lancaster
  • Boris Gilbertson – Fond du Lac and Janesville
  • Forrest Flower – Rice Lake and Viroqua
  • Peter Rotier – Mayville and West Bend

New Deal Artists Biographies NARA
New Deal Artists Biographies NARA
New Deal Artists Biographies NARA

Sources

  • David W. Gates Jr. on site visits to each location.
  • Wisconsin Post Office Mural Guidebook by David W. Gates Jr.
  • Wisconsin Post Office Murals by David W. Gates Jr.
  • National Archives Records and Administration, College Park Maryland
  • Who was who in American Art, 1564-1975: 400 years of artist in America, Peter H Falk; Audrey M Lewis, Georgia Kuchen, Veronika Roessler, Madison, CT, Mount View Press. 1999.
  • Democratic Vistas: Post Offices and Public Art in the New Deal: [Hardcover]  Marlene Park, Gerald E. Markowitz

Filed Under: Artist, Artwork, NARA, New Deal, Post Office, Wisconsin Tagged With: Arnold Blanch, Artist, Boris Gilbertson, Charles W Thwaites, Edmund D Lewandowski, Edward Morton, Elsa Jemne, Ethel Spears, Eugene Higgins, Forrest Flower, Frances Foy, Frank Buffmire, George A Dietrich, Gerrit Sinclair, James Watrous, Jefferson E Greer, John Van Koert, Lester W Bentley, NARA, New Deal, Paul Faulkner, Peter Rotier, Raymond Redell, Richard Brooks, Richard Jansen, Ruth Grotenrath, Santos Zingale, Schomer Lichtner, Stella E Harlos, Tom Rost, Walter Vladimir Rousseff, Wisconsin

Hart Michigan Post Office

March 19, 2016 By David W. Gates Jr.

Hart MI Post Office 49420
Hart MI Post Office 49420

ADDRESS: 135 S. State St., Hart, Michigan, 49420
ARTIST: Ruth Grotenrath
TITLE: Boy Rounding Up the Stock
MEDIUM: Oil on canvas (mural)
STATUS: The Hart post office 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: 1941

Today’s featured post office is the wonderful building in Hart, Michigan. I was able to visit this one during the summer of 2015.

A bit disappointed in the placement of the railing in front of the corner stone. But at least its not entirely covered up or destroyed.

This mural feels full to me. I mean all the subjects fill up the space on the canvas. The colors are bold maybe that’s why I get a full feeling when I view it. I also feel the artist made an effort to make the subject as large as possible because of the placement high above the postmasters door.

What do you think about this one? Please comment and share below.

Thanks,

David W. Gates Jr.

Hart Michigan Post Office Mural 49420 Signature
Hart Michigan Post Office Mural 49420 Right Side
Hart Michigan Post Office Mural 49420 Left Side
Hart Michigan Post Office Mural 49420 Full
Hart Michigan Post Office Mural 49420 Full
Hart Michigan Post Office Mural 49420 Detail
Hart Michigan Post Office Mural 49420 Detail
Hart Michigan Post Office Mural 49420 Detail
Hart Michigan Post Office Mural 49420 Detail
Hart Michigan Post Office Mural 49420 Detail
Hart Michigan Post Office Mural 49420 Detail
Hart Michigan Post Office Mural 49420 Detail
Hart Michigan Post Office Mural 49420 Detail
Hart Michigan Post Office Mural 49420 Center
Hart Michigan Post Office Mural 49420 Center
Hart Michigan Post Office 49420
Hart Michigan Post Office 49420
Hart Michigan Post Office 49420
Hart Michigan Post Office 49420
Hart Michigan Post Office 49420
Hart Michigan Post Office 49420
Hart Michigan Post Office 49420
Hart Michigan Post Office 49420 Lobby
Hart Michigan Post Office 49420 Corner Stone

1 2 ►
“Used with the permission of the United States Postal Service®. All rights reserved.”

Sources

  • Personal visit on 8/05/2015 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)

Filed Under: Artist, Artwork, Cornerstone, Michigan, New Deal, Post Office Tagged With: Artist, Artwork, Cornerstone, Michigan, Mural, New Deal, Parma Conservation, Post Office, Ruth Grotenrath

Former Hudson Wisconsin Post Office

September 8, 2013 By David W. Gates Jr.

Former Hudson WI Post Office 54016
Former Hudson WI Post Office 54016

ADDRESS: 225 Locust St. Hudson, Wisconsin 54016
ARTIST: Ruth Grotenrath
TITLE: Unloading a River Barge
MEDIUM: Oil on canvas (mural)
STATUS:  The mural no longer resides in the original Hudson Post Office building. It was moved to the Museum of Wisconsin Artists (MOWA) located in West Bend, Wisconsin. At the time of writing, the mural was in storage and not available for viewing by the public.
YEAR: 1941

I specifically set aside a time to drive up to Hudson so I could photograph this one and hopefully see the mural. My limited research told me there was a mural inside. So I just figured I drive on up here and find out. Little did I know that the building had already been sold and is now The Post Mark Grill.

Had I know when I went to visit I would have planned my trip better and actually eaten here. But we just ate before visiting the building and I didn’t even know it had become a restaurant. So for all those Post Office Fans, if you are headed to Hudson Wisconsin. I’d say make sure you plan your trip and try out the Post Mark Grill. If I ever get the chance to drive out this way again I’m definitely going to try to eat here.

So with that being said, the new owners did do a great job preserving this wonderful old building. They kept all the post office engravings on the front of the building. They keep the awesome eagle above the front entrance. The interior is also wonderfully done. The restaurant is filled with old photographs and artifacts. I really had a great visit here and enjoyed taking it all in. But it begs me to ask? Where is the old mural that once graced the lobby of this building? After speaking to the one of the staff and asking a few more questions, I was told the old mural is in a museum in West Bend Wisconsin. What museum is that I proceeded to ask. Turns out no one knew, and I’d have to figure this one out on my own.

So that is exactly what I did. After returning from this visit I did some research for Wisconsin Museums. What I found was the Museum of Wisconsin Artists, or (MOWA) for short. Now I have a place to start. I’m hoping they may also have some information on the other murals in the state. So stayed tuned, this is going to be a continuing post about the Former Hudson Wisconsin Post Office.

January 8, 2014 Update

Back in September of last year, my wife and I ended up visiting MOWA twice. The first time we were not able to view the mural and the staff wasn’t quite sure where the mural was. After looking through the glass storage windows, I observed something that resembled the post office mural.

Turns out I was right and after contacting the correct staff at MOWA, we were able to scheduled a visit and view this wonderful mural. Although it was in storage, Andrea took time out of her Saturday to let us view it, and for this I can not thank you enough. Hopefully someday this one will make it into the permanent displays. But for now you have a gallery of photos here on postofficefans to enjoy.

In addition to the Hudson Post Office Mural, MOWA also has another one of Ruth Grotenrath’s paintings on display. Its’s called “Modern Madonna”. I’ve included the plaque description with a small piece of the painting below. It’s unique that one gets to observe multiple works by the same artist in one place, which is especially true of post office murals, so I thought I’d mentioned this other work just in case you are interested in Ruth Grotenrath’s art.

UPDATE 2023
It appears the ownership has changed and the restaurant has been change to Post American Eatery. I’m anxious to re-visit and eat here.

Thanks,

David W. Gates Jr.

Unloading a River Barge by Ruth Grotenrath, photo credit David W. Gates Jr.

Former Hudson Wisconsin Post Office 54016
Former Hudson Wisconsin Post Office 54016
Former Hudson Wisconsin Post Office 54016
Former Hudson Wisconsin Post Office 54016
Former Hudson Wisconsin Post Office 54016
Former Hudson Wisconsin Post Office 54016
Former Hudson Wisconsin Post Office 54016
Former Hudson Wisconsin Post Office 54016 Artifacts
Former Hudson Wisconsin Post Office 54016 Artifacts
Former Hudson Wisconsin Post Office 54016 Artifacts
Former Hudson Wisconsin Post Office 54016 Artifacts
Former Hudson Wisconsin Post Office 54016 Artifacts
Former Hudson Wisconsin Post Office 54016 Artifacts
Former Hudson Wisconsin Post Office 54016 Artifacts
Former Hudson Wisconsin Post Office 54016 Cornerstone
Former Hudson Wisconsin Post Office Mural 54016 Artists Signature
Former Hudson Wisconsin Post Office Mural 54016 Center
Former Hudson Wisconsin Post Office Mural 54016 Detail
Former Hudson Wisconsin Post Office Mural 54016 Detail
Former Hudson Wisconsin Post Office Mural 54016 Detail
Former Hudson Wisconsin Post Office Mural 54016 Detail
Former Hudson Wisconsin Post Office Mural 54016 Detail
Former Hudson Wisconsin Post Office Mural 54016 Detail
Former Hudson Wisconsin Post Office Mural 54016 Detail

1 2 ►
“Used with the permission of the United States Postal Service®. All rights reserved.”

Sources

  • Personal visit on 6/05/2013 and 9/28/2013, 7/6/2016 by David W. Gates Jr.
  • Wisconsin Post Office Murals by David W. Gates Jr.
  • Wisconsin 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
  • Museum of Wisconsin Artist (MOWA) (https://wisconsinart.org)
  • The Post Mark Grill (https://www.thepostmarkgrille.com)
  • Post American Eatery – (posthudson.com)
  • A Creative Place: The History Of Wisconsin Art

Filed Under: Artifacts, Cornerstone, Former Post Office, New Deal, Post Office, Wisconsin Tagged With: Artifacts, Artwork, Cornerstone, Former Post Office, Mural, New Deal, Post Office, Ruth Grotenrath, Wisconsin

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