US Post Office - Powell Main - Powell, WY
Posted by: T0SHEA
N 44° 45.312 W 108° 45.463
12T E 677477 N 4958202
A WPA project completed in 1938, the Powell post office continues in service as it was initially intended.
Waymark Code: WMWT5Z
Location: Wyoming, United States
Date Posted: 10/10/2017
Views: 0
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.
Street address: 270 North Bent Street Powell, WY United States 82435
County / Borough / Parish: Park County
Year listed: 1987
Historic (Areas of) Significance: Politics/Government, Art
Periods of significance: 1925-1949
Historic function: Government - Post Office
Current function: Government - Post Office
Privately owned?: no
Primary Web Site: [Web Link]
Secondary Website 1: [Web Link]
Secondary Website 2: [Web Link]
Season start / Season finish: Not listed
Hours of operation: Not listed
National Historic Landmark Link: Not listed
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