ADDRESS: 245 S. Main St., Eaton Rapids, Michigan, 48827
ARTIST: Boris Mestchersky
TITLE: Industry and Agriculture
MEDIUM: Mural
STATUS: The Eaton Rapids 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: 1939
Welcome to today’s featured post office from Eaton Rapids, Michigan.
I must have looked suspicious to the staff here. I ended up being carded and pulled into the postmasters office. After explaining what I was up too we had a great conversation about the building and art. He even showed me some old photos tucked away inside his files. I can’t thank you enough for taking time out of your day and to hear my story.
Which leads me to believe there are more old photos out there tucked away and not on display in other buildings. One idea I had If I was independently wealthy is to travel to all these buildings and spend more time with the postmasters and rummage through all the old files. It seems there is a great wealth of information that is never seen or told.
I’m going to add the category Artifacts to this article. Even though the photos are not on display, I did witness other photos and hope to see these again.
At least if we were able to convince staff to display the old photos behind the glass bulletin board in the lobby’s that would be a starting point.
Dear Mr. Eaton Rapids Postmaster,
If I drag my family up to Eaton Rapid’s, again, would you mind if I photographed the old photos you showed me when I was there in 2015?
At some point this year 2016, I”ll be working my way through Michigan again. I’d really appreciate it. Please contact me if and when you are available and maybe the local newspaper.
You have a great building and historic treasure and having the old images on display would be a real treat to your customers.
Thanks,
David W. Gates Jr.
Sources
- Personal visit on 8/06/2015 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