Post Office Art in Washington State

Washington

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Loggers and Mill Workers 1941 Albert C. Runquist, oil on canvas, Sedro Wooley, WA

Sedro-Wooley is the entrance to the North Cascades so it's not surprising to find a painting that shows the timber industry. What is unusual is the inclusion of African-Americans. These Depression era post office buildings share a lot of similarities in design such as the glassed in vestibules and mahogany trim. Here the original lighting has been replaced with fluorescent tubes.

Prosser, WA, on the Yakima River is at the center of a large agricultural region. The Yakima Valley is generally associated with apples but it is also home to vineyards and hops farms. The town is quite prosperous but unfortunately the post office is somewhat run down. The mural is partially obscured by fluorescent lights that are burned out.

Mail Train in the '80s Ernest Norling 1937, oil on canvas Prosser, WA

The artist, Ernest Norling was a native of Central Washington whose work has been widely collected.

It is unfortunate that this painting is so poorly displayed. There is a facsimile on the wall below the painting but it is covered in plexiglass which makes it hard to photograph.

Camas, Washington, near the entrance to the Columbia Gorge, is an old mill town with a well preserved historic downtown area. Today, it primarily serves as a bedroom community for the greater Portland-Vancouver metropolitan area.

It's unfortunate that in spite of the obvious prosperity of the town, the poor old Post Office is in rough shape with peeling paint and decaying wood work. Worse yet, the painting inside is badly faded.

Beginning of a New World 1941, Douglas Nicholson, tempera, Camas, WA

The fading may be more from the medium, tempera, than from neglect. Regardless, if the building gets torn down, I hope the painting finds a good home.

Further north and west, Kelso, WA is the gateway to Washington's Pacific beaches. The town, like many in the region was supported in the past by the timber industry. Nearby Longview was once home to the world's largest sawmill and the area is still a major port for shipping forest products.

Incidents in the Lives of Lewis and Clark  David McCosh 1938, oil on canvas

The artist, David McCosh was an important Portland-based artist. This painting shows exploration continuing through development in the Pacific Northwest.

Continuing north to Centralia, WA, about halfway between the Columbia River and Puget Sound, I found a small city with many well preserved old buildings. This was once an important railroad town and many of the remaining buildings are hotels. The Post Office building is modest, though and reflects the decline of Centralia's importance during the Depression.

The mural here is protected by plexiglass, probably because it is low enough for people to touch.

Industries of Lewis County 1938, Kenneth Callahan, oil on canvas, Centralia, WA

The artist, Kenneth Callahan, was one of the more prolific of the New Deal painters placing murals in Anacortes, WA and Rugby, North Dakota as well as Centralia.

My favorite Post Office and mural in Washington is in Bremerton. This city was booming during World War II due to the shipyard where battleships were built. The old downtown was largely rooming houses, bars and brothels, most of which are now gone. The Post Office building is just uphill from downtown (and the ferry terminal) and is one of the best kept I have seen.

When I visited, there was even a man inside polishing the brass banister.

The marble walls are impressive and the lighting is original.

The globe lights interfere somewhat with photography.

Northwest Logging 1938, Ernest Norling, oil on canvas, Bremmerton, WA

Like many other of the Depression era Post Office buildings the one in Wenatchee, WA has found a new purpose as a museum.

Saga of Wenatchee 1940, Peggy Strong, oil on canvas

I shot this from three different angles due to the strong light coming through the windows.

Because this building is currently an excellent, and friendly, county museum, there is information about the artist, Peggy Strong. Ms Strong, another Washington artist, was disabled but due to the ingenuity of her father was able to paint this mural, in place. A pamphlet describing how they made it work is available in the museum.