Powell Post Office - Powell, WY - Lucky 7 on Waymarking.com

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Powell Post Office - Powell, WY

in Lucky 7

Posted by:  T0SHEA

12T E 677477 N 4958202

A WPA project completed in 1937, the Powell post office continues in service as it was initially intended.

Not only was the post office a WPA project, but within is one of six WPA commissioned Wyoming post office murals commissioned by the Treasury Department's Section of Painting and Sculpture. This one is entitled "Powell's Agriculture Resulting from Shoshone Irrigation Project" and was the work of Verona Burkhard, a Paris born American who was living at the Klondike Ranch near Buffalo, Wyoming at the time.

A mural entitled "Powell's Agriculture Resulting from Shoshone Irrigation Project" is located at the south end of the lobby over the postmaster's door (approximately 12 feet by 6 feet in size). The mural was executed by Verona Burkhard in 1939 for a sum of $880.

It was the Treasury Department's Section of Painting and Sculpture that was established in the fall of 1934 (renamed Section of Fine Arts in 1938) under which the Powell mural and five other works were completed (in Greybull, Kemmerer, Riverton, Worland and Yellowstone Post Offices).
From the NRHP Nomination Form

Built in the months of May through December of 1937, the Powell post office was officially dedicated on December 17th, 1937, the post office moving in on December 30th. The one storey brick and sandstone building is actually steel framed, the brick and stone forming curtain walls. Devoid of significant detailing, this was not one of the renowned Art Deco or Renaissance WPA edifices, more Contemporary Commercial than anything, with a flat, tar and gravel roof. It has, however, served the community of Powell admirably since its construction. However, a one story addition to the rear of the building was completed in 1973, greatly expanding the available space.

Other than two beltlines of sandstone which ring the building, an interesting touch was the inclusion of three transportation related reliefs, one each over the entrance and the two side lights. They consist of reliefs of an airplane, a train locomotive and an ocean liner, all done in sandstone which matches the trim on the post office.

The interior appears to be essentially original, retaining the original woodwork and many of the original post office boxes.

Powell Main

The acquisition and construction of Powell's first federally constructed post office was reported in The Powell Tribune between 1935 and 1937. During this period, Powell seemed to fare relatively well in spite of the national depression. The farm crop reports were good, school enrollment and postal receipts were up (both growth indicators). A new library and a $90,000 addition to the high school (PWA project) were constructed, and the Heart Mountain Reclamation project was approved by the federal government.

On January 31, 1935 Frank Herrington took over as Powell's new postmaster. On July 25th, the Tribune reported that the local citizenry had urged Senator O'Mahoney to support a federal building in Powell. On February 6, 1936 it was reported that the Chamber of Commerce had discussed the progress toward obtaining a federal building in the city. The Chamber noted that Powell was the largest city in Wyoming that had not yet received a federal building.

On July 30th, [1936] it was reported that three lots located on Bent Street had been offered by Ed Althoff (owned by Mrs. A. Beyer) for the grand sum of $1.00. The federal government had decided to accept the lots for the $88,000 federal building. On April 1st, [1937] it was reported that Busboom & Rauh of Salina, Kansas had submitted the low and winning bid for post office construction -- $63,900. As reported on May 13th, excavation was planned to commence the following Monday.

An article of November 25th noted that the building's dedication was planned for December 17th [1937]. On December 30th, it was reported that the post office was moving into the new building and that it would begin the new year's business (1938) in its new quarters.
From the NRHP Nomination Form