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Mount Hope Post Office & WPA Mural

Introduction

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Colonial Revival style building, designed by U.S. Treasury architect, Louis A. Simon, in 1940. “Mining” mural by Michael Lenson, noted WPA Federal Art Project artist.


Images

  • This image shows the interior area of the Mount Hope Post Office with the WPA mural. Photo taken by Michael Keller.
  • "Mining" by Michael Lenson, 1942; recognized by Smithsonian American Art Museum in 1962.

Backstory and Context

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The Mount Hope Post Office was built in the Colonial Revival Style of architecture in 1940 by U.S. Treasury architect Louis A. Simon.  This building would combine the post office operations of both MacDonald and Mount Hope residents.  The original Mount Hope post office which was founded in 1872 around the town known as Warner Town.  Luther Warner was the first postmaster for the town of Mount Hope His daughter, Sue Warner, would help with the mail and many historical records give her credit as being the areas first postmaster.  In 1942, the WPA an American New Deal Agency would commission murals to be installed throughout post offices across the country.  The Mount Hope Post Office was chosen as one of those buildings and artist Michael Lensen would paint the mural entitled, "Mining".   It would later be recognized by the Smithsonian in 1962.