Historic District in Wilmington in New Hanover County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

U.S. Post Office & Federal Building

1936-1937

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 15, 2023

1. U.S. Post Office & Federal Building Marker

Inscription. R. Stanley Brown, Architect
Algernon Blair, Builder
R.A. Wood, Construction Superintendent
Construction of the Colonial revival style Federal Building provided employment during the Great Depression. W.P.A. Artist, William F. Pfohl, painted the mural inside the lobby and W.P.A. Sculptor, Thomas Lo Medico, created the eight bas reliefs in the northern stair hall. Besides the United States Postal Services the building has housed various other U.S. Government offices such as Internal Revenue Service, Department of Agriculture, Army and Navy, Immigration and Naturalization Services, Congressional Offices, and Civil Service. During World War II the Filter Center, a military and civilian aircraft observation corps was located in the basement.Historic Wilmington Foundation, Inc.
James D. and Rosalie W. Carr Memorial Plaque

Erected by Historic Wilmington Foundation, Inc.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Arts, Letters, Music • Charity & Public Work. In addition, it is included in the North Carolina, Historic Wilmington Foundation, and the Works Progress Administration (WPA) projects series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1936.

Location. 34° 14.236′

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N, 77° 56.92′ W. Marker is in Wilmington, North Carolina, in New Hanover County. It is in the Historic District. It is on North Front Street just south of Chestnut Street, on the right when traveling north. Marker is mounted at eye-level, directly on the subject building, just to the right of the west (North Front Street) entrance. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 152 North Front Street, Wilmington NC 28401, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Carolina’s Coastal Plain and on the Cape Fear Coast.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Tidewater.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Park Avenue — Post Office Alley (within shouting distance of this marker); Peterson & Rulfs Building (within shouting distance of this marker); The Murchison National Bank Building (within shouting distance of this marker); I. Shrier Lyceum Hall (within shouting distance of this marker); Hotel Cape Fear (within shouting distance of this marker); The Bijou Theater (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Cape Fear Club (about 300 feet away); D. R. Foster Building (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Wilmington.

Also see . . . Downtown Wilmington Post Office Building History.

It was one of the projects trying to invest in infrastructure back under the New Deal, which hopefully brought some work to people with 25-percent unemployement during that time period.” The artwork here was done by a gentlemen out of Winston-Salem. The female is a representation of his wife, and the letters on the barrel
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 15, 2023

2. U.S. Post Office & Federal Building Marker
(marker is mounted on right side of west entrance)
are her initials. The artist, William Pfohl, was paid $2,300, which was a nice sum in 1940.

(Submitted on June 11, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

U.S. Post Office & Federal Building Lobby image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 15, 2023

3. U.S. Post Office & Federal Building Lobby

(Works Progress Administration Mural is on the wall)

Works Progress Administration Mural image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 15, 2023

4. Works Progress Administration Mural

(by W.P.A. Artist, William F. Pfohl)

U.S. Post Office & Federal Building (<i>northwest elevation</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 15, 2023

5. U.S. Post Office & Federal Building (northwest elevation)

(marker is partially visible between door and column)

Credits. This page was last revised on June 24, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 11, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 273 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on June 11, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.