Seneca in Nemaha County, Kansas — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
The Seneca Post Office
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., October 1, 2011
1. The Seneca Post Office Marker
Seneca, in 1938, was a city awakening from the Great Depression; the construction of a new post office was a sign that things were improving. This Colonial Revival building is noteworthy for its lobby mural painted in 1940 under a New Deal arts program.
The impressive mural called "Men and Wheat" was painted by Joe Jones, a struggling 30-year old Missouri artist. It shows a Nemaha County farm scene with a tractor and combine harvesting wheat. After it was installed, the Seneca International Harvester dealer complained that the green painted equipment depicted was an advertisement for his rival, John Deere Company. To settle matters, the artist repainted the combine "Harvester Red" and painted his own name as a logo on the green tractor.
Today, works by Joe Jones are part of collections in major art museums across the nation and at the White House in Washington, DC.
The Seneca Post Office mural is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Erected by City of Seneca and Kansas Humanities Council.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Arts, Letters, Music • Charity & Public Work • Communications. In addition, it is included in the Postal Mail and Philately series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1938.
Location.
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Seneca Free Library (within shouting distance of this marker); City Hall (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Buggy Store (about 400 feet away); The Railroads (about 600 feet away); The First National Bank (about 600 feet away); War Memorial (about 700 feet away); World War Memorial (about 700 feet away); The Smith Hotel (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Seneca.
Also see . . .
1. Seneca, Kansas, Post Office - National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form. Kansas Historical Society website entry (Submitted on May 29, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. Kansas Post Offices & WPA Murals. RootsWeb website entry (Submitted on January 26, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
3. Seneca, Kansas. Nemaha County Historical Society website entry (Submitted on January 21, 2021, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., October 1, 2011
2. The Seneca Post Office and Marker
Photographed By Joe Jones, 1940
3. Mural on The Seneca Post Office Marker
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., March 11, 2013
4. "Men and Wheat" Mural in Seneca Post Office Lobby
Credits. This page was last revised on January 26, 2022. It was originally submitted on May 29, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 651 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 29, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 4. submitted on March 17, 2013, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.
