Delaware

Wilmington Delaware Former Post Office

October 5, 2021 By David W. Gates Jr.

ADDRESS: 1100 N., Market St., Suite 1300, Wilmington, Delaware 19801
ARTIST: Albert Pels
TITLE: Landing of Swedens at The Rocks in Wilmington
MEDIUM: Oil and tempera (mural)
STATUS: The former Wilmington Delaware post office is no longer an active, operating facility. However, the mural can usually be viewed by interested members of the public during business hours. One mural resides east wall of the lobby and the other resides on the west wall of the lobby.
YEAR: 1938

ARTIST: Herman Zimmerman
TITLE: Chemistry and Industry, and Chemistry and Agriculture
MEDIUM: Oil on canvas (mural)
STATUS: The former Wilmington Delaware post office is no longer an active, operating facility. However, the mural can usually be viewed by interested members of the public during business hours. One mural resides east wall of the lobby and the other resides on the west wall of the lobby.
YEAR: 1938

This was the very last visit during my trip in August of 2021. It was getting late on Saturday and I knew the building was going to closed, but I had imagined I might be able to get some good exterior photos during non-business hours.

Sadly, even on Saturday evening there were cars in front of the building. I also had no idea if and when they would move. I was able to get some angle shots, the plaque, the cornerstone so that was nice.

While I was outside, a car pulled up and a lady stood at the front door. From what I could gather she was delivering food for someone. Eventually the front doors, opened and the lady walked in. Since the doors were timed, I followed the lady in. I’m not sure I was suppose to do that but, I figured that was my chance to get inside the building.

Well, the security guard was not amused and quickly inquired as to my reason for being there. I pleaded my case to and explained I was from out of town and I was interested in photographing the murals. When I walked in the building I could bitterly see them – one on either side of the large lobby.

I was denied several times, but kept pushing, with my very last case, I asked if I could photograph them from where I was standing and that I didn’t need to be close. (I wanted to get something). He reluctantly agreed and allowed me to photograph one shot of each mural from where I was standing.

I had to zoom in all the way with my phone to get the two images you see below. The lights in the lobby were turned off so even if I were to get closer to the murals, I knew they would be dark. So I was pretty satisfied with the two images I did manage to get.

This confirms the murals are still in the building, in their original location. That little bit pleased me enough. Besides I was exhausted and still needed to get to Columbia, MD for the night.

Successful trip!

David W. Gates Jr.

Wilmington DE Former Post Office 19801 Plaque

Wilmington DE Former Post Office 19801 Cornerstone

Wilmington DE Former Post Office 19801 Mural1

Wilmington DE Former Post Office 19801 Mural2

Sources

Personal visit on 8/14/21 about 5:20 PM by David W. Gates Jr.
(affiliate link) Democratic Vistas: Post Offices and Public Art in the New Deal: [Hardcover] Marlene Park, Gerald E. Markowitz
Wilmington Trust (https://www.wilmingtontrust.com/)
WOLFS Gallery: Albert Pels | Artists | WOLFS Fine Paintings and Sculpture (wolfsgallery.com)
Ask Art: Albert Pels – Biography (askart.com)

New Castle Delaware Post Office

October 1, 2021 By David W. Gates Jr.

ADDRESS: 501 Delaware St, New Castle, DE 19720
ARTISTS: J. Scott Williams
TITLE: William Penn Welcomed at New Castle
MEDIUM: Oil on canvas (mural)
STATUS: The New Castle 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 the wall above the postmaster’s door.
YEAR: 1938

Check out all those overgrown bushes in the from the building. Why do I point that out? Well, because there is a cornerstone somewhere behind them.

And yes, this one was tricky to photograph. I did end up crawling into the bushes to photograph the cornerstone. Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.

I’m delighted the building is in such great shape and well cared for. These are just some of the things I notice as I drive around Delaware. It seems the older buildings have been well preserved and that makes me happy.

David W. Gates Jr.

New Castle DE Post Office 19720 Cornerstone

New Castle DE Post Office 19720 Mural Detail

New Castle DE Post Office 19720 Mural Signature

New Castle DE Post Office 19720 Mural Center

New Castle DE Post Office 19720 Mural Right

New Castle DE Post Office 19720 Mural Left

Sources

Personal visit on 8/14/21 about 4:40 PM by David W. Gates Jr.
(affiliate link) Democratic Vistas: Post Offices and Public Art in the New Deal: [Hardcover] Marlene Park, Gerald E. Markowitz
United States Postal Service
Smithsonian National Postal Museum: William Penn Welcomed by the People of New Castle | National Postal Museum (si.edu)

Selbyville Delaware Post Office

September 30, 2021 By David W. Gates Jr.

ADDRESS: 23 Church St., Selbyville, Delaware 19975
ARTIST: William Howard. Calfee
TITLE: Chicken Farm
MEDIUM: Oil and termpera (mural)
STATUS: The Selbyville 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 the wall above the postmaster’s door.
YEAR: 1942

Another wonderful stop compete with mural and challenging cornerstone to photograph. Nice weather and blue skies always make me happy when photographing the exterior of the buildings. I lucked out with the weather during this trip. I’m really happy with both the exterior building images and the mural is wonderful.

Selbyville was another building where the cornerstone is covered up with bushes. It was a bit of a challenge holding them back just enough so I could get a good photo of it. My preference would be a straight on image, but something this is difficult to achieve.

David W. Gates Jr.