ADDRESS: 229 Main St., Fort Lee, New Jersey 07024
ARTIST: Henry Schnakenberg
TITLE: Indians Trading with the Half Moon, Washington at Fort Lee, Moving Pictures at Fort Lee, and The Present Day
MEDIUM: Oil on canvas (murals) 4 panels
STATUS: The Fort Lee post office is still an active, operating facility, and the murals can be viewed by interested members of the public. Three reside on the walls of the main lobby above the retail counter. The forth one resides above the postmaster’s door. The borough plans to demolish this building for a park. At the time of this publication, the murals are to be relocated to the community center.
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.
Ever since this story was brought to my attention, I’ve been fascinated with this building. I absolutely love the copper roof and look of this historic building. It’s also a treasure in that it has 4 murals by the artist Henry Schnakenberg. As most of you know, buildings of his size usually only have one mural, but to have four is truly unique.
Since the borough has plans to demolish the building for a park, I knew I had to make the trip to New Jersey and experience this building myself. So that is exactly what I did in late May 2021. I’m delighted I was able to make the trip. In addition, I was also grateful for the wonderful weather. I can’t imagine having to drive all this way only to be faced with cloudy or raining weather.
Luckily, I was able to enjoy and experience this building with plenty of sunshine. I visited a second time on Sunday before heading home. The pictures are more difficult to take as the sun rises behind the building. Taking photos into the sun is more difficult and the images turn out darker.
My wish is the borough will reconsider demolishing their building and include it as part of their new park. I see Art in the Park, as a viable event for the future of the Fort Lee building.
Art in the Park, with Henry Schnakenberg’s murals as highlights that everyone can enjoy! I also think a nice National Park Historic Places plaque could also be added for tourist to enjoy!
David W. Gates Jr.
Sources
- Personal visit on 05/20/2021 about 12:30 PM, 5/23/2021 about 7:00 AM and 8/12/2021 about 6:02 PM by David W. Gates Jr.
- (affiliate link) New Jersey Post Office Mural Guidebook 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
- North New Jersey Article
https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/new-jersey/2020/05/14/fort-lee-post-office-among-njs-10-most-endangered-historic-places/5189729002/ - Preservation New Jersey
https://www.preservationnj.org/listings/fort-lee-post-office/ - Save The Post Office
https://www.savethepostoffice.com/fort-lee-post-office-named-one-of-new-jerseys-10-most-endangered-historic-places/ - NJ.com N.J. post offices showcase Depression-era public art – nj.com
Hello David:
The Edmund R. Stearns Co. Montclair, NJ was the low bidder (of 18 bidders) to build the Fort Lee, New Jersey Post Office in 1938, with a bid of $47,728.00. The project was to be completed in 240 working days. The site was purchased some time in 1937 for $12,000.00
R. Mis P.O. Collection