A local librarian told me I had to visit the historic post office in town, and I'm glad I did. The brick building was built in 1935, constructed with New Deal funds, and is still mostly in original state. It's like taking a step back in time.
A mural by Alan Tompkins entitled "Arrival of the Mail" is the first thing I noticed. The 1937 mural depicts people excited and anxiously awaiting the distribution of mail at a time before postal delivery. The mural was commissioned by President Roosevelt to support artists. Tompkins was an art instructor at Herron in Indianapolis. He lived to 100 and painted prolifically during his career. The mural has water damage and was restored by A. Raemaekers in 1974.
The post office's lovely oak trim and brass postal boxes are original. Framed local postal history and a heartwarming story of "Tiger, the postal dog" hang above the post boxes. Photos of the building's construction hang on the wall.
An addition to the facility was added in 1974 to the south side of the building. Today, the building is part of the Martinsville Historic District.
The building is accessible, a ramp has been added. There is limited parking in front. If you're in Martinsville, a visit is recommended. read more