ADDRESS: 216 Westwood Ave., Westwood, New Jersey 07675
ARTIST: Hunt Diederich
TITLE: Pegasus with Messenger
MEDIUM: Plaster/metal (sculpture)
STATUS: The Westwood post office is still an active, operating facility. However, it has been reported the relief is missing, lost or destroyed. It previously resided in the lobby above the postmaster’s door.
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.
Westwood was another stop during my visit to New Jersey. I’m sad the artwork is no longer here. I’d love to find out more about it. So far any research I’ve uncovered, mentions it missing, lost or destroyed.
I’m also finding the medium of this a bit confusing. Most sources mention this as being a metal relief. However, if you check the archives photos, it looks like a plaster cast. But maybe the cast was used to create the metal relief. I’m not 100% sure.
If you have the answers to these questions, by all means please leave a comment below.
Thanks,
David W. Gates Jr.
“Used with the permission of the United States Postal Service®. All rights reserved.”
Sources
- Personal visit on 5/20/21 about 8:23 AM by David W. Gates Jr.
- (affiliate link) New Jersey Post Office Mural Guidebook by David W. Gates Jr.
- United States Postal Service (NJ Post Office dedication to honor Marine Sgt Christopher R. Hrbek (usps.com))
- United States Postal Service
- North Jersey (‘He cares about everyone’: Westwood mailman retires after 48 years on same route (msn.com)
- National Archives Records and Administration
- NJ.com N.J. post offices showcase Depression-era public art – nj.com
- Docs Teach (“Pegasus with Messenger” Sculpture, Westwood, NJ Post Office by Hunt Diederich | DocsTeach)
- (affiliate link) Democratic Vistas: Post Offices and Public Art in the New Deal
: [Hardcover] Marlene Park, Gerald E. Markowitz
Did you ask at that post office what happened to the relief? The clerks probably wouldn’t know
but sometimes that particular station (post office) might have the information in its files. Information
as to what happened to it. Also, I wonder if the family of the artist might know something.
Hi Walt,
The retail counter wasn’t open when I visited. It’s a good thought to ask, but I’ll have to call as I’m back in Illinois from this trip.
David