Post Office Fans

Celebrating our Nation's Post Offices

You are here: Home / Archives for Illinois

Illinois Post Offices

Illinois Post Office Mural Guidebook Map
Illinois Post Office Mural Guidebook Map

Former Charleston Illinois Post Office

By

Former Charleston IL Post Office 61920
Former Charleston IL Post Office 61920

ADDRESS: 320 Sixth St., Charleston, Illinois 61920

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to visit your local post office and find out it’s a pet store? Welcome to Charleston, Illinois. I visited in October for a book signing event at the local book store. It was a very long drive on a Saturday with an infant, but we made it and I was able to get my books signed. I was also told there is a nice historic old post office building in Charleston so naturally I had to find it. The folks at the book store also mentioned it had been converted to a pet store. Older buildings like this are pretty easy to spot but the new owners also had a nice big sign indicating they are now open for business. See images below.

Since I was with the family, I needed to get my photos and get moving. It baffles me why I never stepped inside to look around. I guess I knew this particular building didn’t have a mural or artwork so I guess I must have justified this in my head and moved quickly back to the car so we could get on the road. These are just some of the stories from my adventures taking pictures. It’s hard to slow down sometimes and just enjoy the process when you are trying to make as many stops and you can.

We were a long way from home, but sometimes that’s what it takes. During this visit was I also able to get a few other nice older buildings. Stay tuned for those.

Do you remember when this building was the old post office? Maybe you were there for the dedication back in 1917? What do you remember? Do you have pictures or newspaper articles from this time? Please comment and share below.

Thanks,

David W. Gates Jr.

Sources

  • Personal visit on 10/18/2014 by David W. Gates Jr.
  • Fetchers Pet Store

Sandwich Illinois Post Office

By

Sandwich IL Post Office 60548
Sandwich IL Post Office 60548

ADDRESS: 22 North Eddy Street, Sandwich, Illinois, 60548
ARTIST: Marshall Maynard Fredericks
TITLE: The Family
MEDIUM: Terra-cotta (relief)
STATUS: The Sandwich post office is still an active, operating facility, and the relief can be viewed by interested members of the public. It resides in the lobby on the wall above the postmaster’s door.
YEAR: 1941

So I decided to visit in July and I guess the town was having their 4th of July parade. Needless to say it was very congested in and around the post office during my visit. I didn’t even try to stick around for an un-obstructed photo of the building. I knew it was going to be next to impossible because of the parade. The photos I did get are shown below. Luckily, it’s not terribly far and I imagine I’ll be back in the future to get better exterior photos.

I’m trying to remember who mentioned the history of this one. Evidently, I must have spoken to one of the postal employees because I learned that this one was painted over when the lobby was remodeled. At least that his the story I heard. This individual also mentioned at one point the original terra-cotta relief was painted in color. The horse was painted brown, the pigs were pink and sheet had black noses painted eyes etc.

So I’m asking myself, who would have ordered the painters to just paint over the art and just turn the walls completely white? Further more what painter must have been desperate or followed those orders and painted over the entire piece? I’m shocked and bit surprised. It also appears this might have been done many years ago judging by how dusty or dirty the top of the piece is. I’m not angry as much as I’m just disappointed. When I visit these buildings my wish is to see they as they were when initially installed. So I hope I’m not sending the wrong message of being mad, just disappointed.

Anyway, enough venting for now. Does anyone out there have pictures of the original before it was painted over? Have you seen this before it was painted all white? Please comment below. I’d love to hear from you.

Thanks,

David W. Gates Jr.

Sandwich Illinois Post Office 60548
Sandwich Illinois Post Office 60548
Sandwich Illinois Post Office 60548 Corner Stone
Sandwich Illinois Post Office 60548
Sandwich Illinois Post Office 60548
Sandwich Illinois Post Office 60548
Sandwich Illinois Post Office Art 60548 Detail
Sandwich Illinois Post Office Art 60548 Detail
Sandwich Illinois Post Office Art 60548 Detail
Sandwich Illinois Post Office Art 60548 Full
Sandwich Illinois Post Office Art 60548 Detail
Sandwich Illinois Post Office Art 60548 Detail
Sandwich Illinois Post Office Art 60548 Detail
Sandwich Illinois Post Office Art 60548 Detail
Sandwich Illinois Post Office Art 60548 Full
Sandwich Illinois Post Office Art 60548 Full
Sandwich Illinois Post Office Art 60548 Full
Sandwich Illinois Post Office 60548
Sandwich Illinois Post Office 60548

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

Sources

Plano Illinois Post Office

By

Plano IL Post Office 60545
Plano IL Post Office 60545

ADDRESS: 102 North Center Street, Plano, Illinois, 60545
ARTIST: Perterpaul Ott
TITLE: Harvest
MEDIUM: Wood (carvings)
STATUS: The Plano post office is still an active, operating facility, and the carving can be viewed by interested members of the public. They reside in the lobby on the wall above the bulletin boards.
YEAR: 1941

Were you looking for a mural? Did you think to yourself, “oh cool another old period looking building”, I bet they have a cool mural? Guess again. This one does have art, but just not a mural. It happens to have not ONE but TWO wood carvings. Pretty cool considering there are more murals than wood carvings that were commissioned during the depression era.

I like the change things up so viewing, photographing art other than a murals was a real treat. I love the look and appearance of the wood carvings. I wondering if they have been treated, if so with what? I’m glad they have not painted over or removed. What are your impressions of the wood carvings? Do you know the artist or any interesting facts about them? Please comment below.

Thanks,

David W. Gates Jr.

Plano Illinois Post Office 60545
Plano Illinois Post Office 60545
Plano Illinois Post Office Art 60545 Left Side Top
Plano Illinois Post Office Art 60545 Left Side Signature
Plano Illinois Post Office Art 60545 Left Side Full
Plano Illinois Post Office 60545
Plano Illinois Post Office 60545
Plano Illinois Post Office Art 60545 Left Side Bottom
Plano Illinois Post Office Art 60545 Left Side Center
Plano Illinois Post Office Art 60545 Left Side Detail
Plano Illinois Post Office Art 60545 Left Side Detail
Plano Illinois Post Office Art 60545 Lobby
Plano Illinois Post Office Art 60545 Right Side Full
Plano Illinois Post Office Art 60545 Right Side Signature
Plano Illinois Post Office Art 60545 Right Side Top
Plano Illinois Post Office Art 60545 Right Side Full
Plano Illinois Post Office Art 60545 Right Side Center
Plano Illinois Post Office Art 60545 Right Side Full Bottom
Plano Illinois Post Office Art 60545 Right Side Detail
Plano Illinois Post Office Art 60545 Right Side Detail
Plano Illinois Post Office Art 60545 Right Side Detail
Plano Illinois Post Office Art 60545 Wood Carvings

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

Sources