United States Post Office (Crawford, Nebraska) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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US Post Office-Crawford
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South elevation, 2010
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 Location in Nebraska
Location in the United States
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| Location | 144 Main Street, Crawford, Nebraska |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1938-39 |
| Built by | Busboom & Rauh |
| Architect | Louis Simon |
| Architectural style | Moderne |
| MPS | Nebraska Post Offices Which Contain Section Artwork MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 92000477 |
| Added to NRHP | May 11, 1992 |
The United States Post Office in Crawford, Nebraska is a special old building. It was built a long time ago, between 1938 and 1939. This building is important because it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's a historic site worth protecting! It's still used today as the local post office.
Contents
What Does the Post Office Look Like?
The Crawford Post Office is found in the main part of Crawford, Nebraska. It's built in a style called Moderne, which was popular in the late 1930s. This building was made using standard plans, like many other post offices from that time.
Outside the Building
The post office is a one-story building with a basement. It measures about 60 feet by 50 feet. It's made of red brick with a concrete base. The top edge has a fancy limestone border.
At the main entrance, there's a cool aluminum grill. Above the door, you can see a stylish eagle design. On each side of the entrance, there are two windows with limestone sills. These windows used to open in three parts, but now the top part is covered with wood.
The front of the building has a similar look on its other sides. There's a ramp on the west side for easy access. On the east side, an enclosed staircase leads down to the basement.
Inside the Post Office
When you go inside, the lobby has its original marble floors. The lower part of the walls also has marble. You can still see the old radiators and wooden details. The area right inside the front door sticks out into the lobby. The original lights and front doors have been changed over the years.
The Famous Mural
The most interesting part of the lobby is a large painting, called a mural. It's on the upper part of the east wall. This mural was painted by an artist named G. Glenn Newell. He was also a dairy farmer from Dutchess County, New York. Post office workers put the mural up in May 1940.
The painting shows a group of wagons, called a wagon train, starting to cross a stream. The wagon in front takes up most of the picture. You can see other wagons in the background. A local landmark, Crow Butte, is also in the painting.
The Post Office's Story
The very first post office in this area opened in June 1884. It was about seven kilometers south of where Crawford is now. It was known as the Crow Butte/Sioux County branch. Later, when Dawes County was formed, the post office moved and its name changed to Crawford.
A New Building for the Mail
On July 1, 1912, it became a "second-class" post office. This meant it handled more mail. Mail delivery to homes in the city started on July 1, 1930. The post office moved to many different spots in town over the years. Finally, it moved into the building we see today. This building was finished in 1939. It was officially opened during the town's Labor Day celebration that year.
The Mural's Creation
The mural inside the building is called "The Crossing." It was one of hundreds of artworks ordered by a government program. This program was called the Section of Fine Arts. It helped artists during the late 1930s and early 1940s.
G. Glenn Newell was asked to create designs for the Crawford Post Office in August 1939. He quickly agreed to the job. He was paid $800 for his work. Newell didn't visit Crawford before painting the mural. However, the postmaster in Crawford sent him many photos. These photos helped Newell paint the setting accurately.
Newell first thought about adding a poem to the mural. The poem would have read: "Seeking the westward sunshine/ Leaving storms behind/ Taking sires of the future with them/ And dams of a better kind." But he was told it wasn't needed. The finished mural was sent to Crawford in April 1940. It was cleaned and fixed up by experts in 1981.
Past Postmasters
Many people have served as the postmaster in Crawford. Some of them include John Walsh, Cyrus Fairchild, Lee Van Voorhis, C.W. Fritts, George C. Scott, John Pat Davis, John Lemons, Edwin Gorton, Frank Reeves, and Mary Jo Knoell.
