ADDRESS: 501 3rd St, Aurora, Indiana 47001
ARTIST: Henrik Martin Mayer
TITLE: Down to the Ferry
MEDIUM: Oil on canvas (mural)
STATUS: The Aurora 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 a wall above the postmaster’s door.
YEAR: 1938
Photograph in the fall is always a challenge. My visit to Aurora demonstrates the conditions I face during this time. I arrived in Aurora about 11:26 AM. The sun was low on the horizon and slightly behind the building.
Why does this matter? Well, the images turn out darker than I’d like. My preference would be to have the sun shinning brightly on the front of the building with deep blue skies in the background and no clouds. But, I’ll take what I can get.
There are some great historical construction photos in the lobby along with a beautiful mural. Enjoy!
David W. Gates Jr.
Sources
- Personal visit on 11/7/21 about 11:25 AM and 06/30/2023 by David W. Gates Jr.
- Indiana 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): A Simple and Vital Design: The Story of the Indiana Post Office Murals
: John C. Carlisle
Hello David:
Great job with the photos at the Aurora, Indiana P.O. site. Also photos of the construction in 1935. The P. O. was built by The E. A. Carson Co. 1165 E. 30th. St. Indianapolis, Indiana, on a low bid contract, $34,176.00, issued by The Treasury Dept. Washington, DC in the first quarter of 1935
Robert
Fed. Architect Journal
April 1935 Pg. 18