Celebrating our Nation's Post Offices
ADDRESS: 500 Demott Ln, Somerset, NJ 08873
I’ll be honest, I don’t always feel like waiting around for people and cars to move. That was the case when I arrived at the Somerset, New Jersey post office.
As a result I only have two images from this visit. The one you see here at the top and one selfie.
David W. Gates Jr.
ADDRESS: 226 Diamond Bridge Ave., Hawthorne, New Jersey 07506
ARTIST: Ilse Erythropel
TITLE: Postman and Hawthorne Bush
MEDIUM: Wood (sculpture)
STATUS: The Hawthorne 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 post office boxes.
YEAR: 1940
During my second trip to New Jersey, in August 2021, I visited the Hawthorne post office. Initially, my research reveled, Patterson as the location with the art.
In May 2021, I visited the main Patterson post office but did not find any art. Fast forward to August and was able to visit the Hawthorne post offie to complete this site visit.
My initial visit to the Hawthorne building was after hours on the 10th, I had to circle around to revisit on the 11th for the interior photos.
Thanks,
David W. Gates Jr.
ADDRESS: 201 Watchung Ave., Plainfield, New Jersey 07060
ARTIST: Anton Refregier
TITLE: Figures from American Folklore and Quilting Bee
MEDIUM: Oil on canvas (mural) 2 panels
STATUS: The Plainfield post office is still an active, operating facility, and the murals can be viewed by interested members of the public. One resides on a wall above the postmaster’s door. The other one resides in the lobby on the wall above the mailboxes.
YEAR: 1937
The battery on my phone was really dying when I arrived at the Plainfield building. I took a few quick pictures outside, but immediately went inside to photograph the murals. I wanted to get these before the battery quit on me.
Luckily, I was able to get the murals and the exterior photographs, but its a bit unsettling when I can’t tell how long I have until the phone quits.
The lobby and vestibule in this building is huge. I was not expecting to find such a large space, but I did. It was also very quiet and which was nice so I was able to work quickly with no interruptions.
David W. Gates Jr.
: [Hardcover] Marlene Park, Gerald E. Markowitz