United States Post Office (Oyster Bay, New York) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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US Post Office--Oyster Bay
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 Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | Oyster Bay, New York |
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| Built | 1935 |
| Architect | Bottomley, Wagner & White; Peixotto, Ernest |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| MPS | US Post Offices in New York State, 1858-1943, TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 88002393 |
| Added to NRHP | May 11, 1989 |
The Oyster Bay Post Office in Oyster Bay, New York is a special building completed in 1936. A famous New York architect named William Bottomley designed it. He made sure it looked just like the Oyster Bay Town Hall across the street.
Inside, you can find amazing murals painted by the well-known American artist Ernest Peixotto. These murals show important moments in Oyster Bay's history, from 1653 all the way to 1936. This historic building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is part of the Oyster Bay History Walk.
Contents
A Look at the Oyster Bay Post Office's History
The very first post office in Oyster Bay was in a house around 1800. Over the years, the post office moved to a few different spots. The building we see today was finished in 1936. It was designed to be both beautiful and useful.
Architect William Bottomley created its Colonial Revival style. This means it looks like buildings from America's early history. He wanted it to perfectly match the Town Hall nearby. To make it even more special, two talented artists were hired to add historical murals and sculptures. This art project was part of a government program called the Treasury Relief Art Project.
Amazing Art Inside the Post Office
Ernest Peixotto, a famous artist and author, was asked to paint five large murals. These murals are like a journey through Oyster Bay's past. They show scenes from 1653, when the first settlers arrived, up to 1936, when the post office was built.
Peixotto's assistant, Arthur Sturges, painted the beautiful vaulted ceiling. It shows women from different countries sending mail across the ocean. The Roman god Mercury, known for speed, sits at the top of the dome, ready to receive the mail quickly.
Sculptures and Symbols
Leo Lentelli, a talented Italian sculptor, also contributed to the building. His work can be seen in many public buildings across America. He created special terracotta panels above the inner doorways. These panels show different continents using animal symbols.
- On the Africa/Oceania panel, the dates 1858 and 1919 mark the birth and death years of President Theodore Roosevelt.
- On the Asia/America panel, 1902 is when Roosevelt returned to Oyster Bay as President. The year 1936 is when the Post Office was built.
Lentelli also sculpted a bust (a head and shoulders statue) of President Theodore Roosevelt. Outside the post office, he created a stunning stone base for the flagpole. He spent the winter of 1936 carving beautiful seahorses, dolphins, and shells into the stone.
Images for kids
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William Leverich discusses a treaty with the Native Americans, 1653.
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George Washington visits the Youngs' House in Oyster Bay, 1790.
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James Caldwell, the first Postmaster, and the first Post Office in Oyster Bay, established around 1800.
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Theodore Roosevelt with his children at Sagamore Hill, 1899.
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A spring afternoon at Piping Rock, 1936.
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