Marlinton Post Office, “Past Visions of the Future,” & “Mill Point”

Marlinton’s New Deal post office was completed in 1937. As is typical of Works Progress Administration public buildings, the Marlinton Post Office architecturally emphasizes function over form with its blocky construction, flat roof, and lack of ornamentation. Two works of New Deal art are found inside the building. Both were painted by Edwin Dorsey Doniphan, a Washington D.C. based artist who primarily executed government commissions. Additionally, both paintings were completed in 1939 and are oil on canvas. The first painting is titled “Past Visions of the Future.” It depicts Calvin Sharp, a lifelong resident of Marlinton. Sharp looks out at the developing town with his two oxen, Pat and Star. The painting on the opposite wall is titled “Mill Point.” It depicts a mill near a relatively major road. One figure works on the mill side of the mural while another figure rides a horse on the road and leads a second animal. The mill depicted is a real location and still stands just outside of Marlinton. These two works exemplify the New Deal style of art, which focused on idyllic depictions of local progress and labor.

Dorsey Doniphan, AskArt. Accessed July 2nd 2021. https://www.askart.com/artist/Dorsey_Edwin_Doniphan/119920/Dorsey_Edwin_Doniphan.aspx.

Lorance, Nancy. New Deal/WPA Art in Marlinton, West Virginia, WPA Murals. Accessed July 2nd 2021. http://wpamurals.org/Marlint.htm.

Marlinton Post Office, New Deal Art Registry. Accessed July 2nd 2021. https://www.newdealartregistry.org/map/Marlinton/WV/.

Park, Marlene. Markowitz, Gerald E. Democratic Vistas: Post Offices and Public Art in the New Deal. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Temple University Press, 1984.

Post Office - Marlinton WV, The Living New Deal. Accessed July 2nd 2021. https://livingnewdeal.org/projects/post-office-marlinton-wv/.

Post Office Murals - Marlinton WV, The Living New Deal. Accessed July 2nd 2021. https://livingnewdeal.org/projects/post-office-murals-marlinton-wv/.