Last night I was watching NBC Nightly News and there was an article about a former school teacher in Mississippi who sends birthday cards to about 400 of her old students every year. It was pretty amazing. But to me the amazing part was at the end when they showed her going into her local post office to mail a batch of cards. “That’s our old post office!” Apparently *her* post office was built as part of the same public works project that built Mount Vernon’s old post office.
I never really thought about it, but I’m sure many of those Public Works Projects were simply cookie cutter plans. So all over the country there are old post office buildings with the same exact design as Mount Vernon’s, and most of them have a unique painting, just like ours. I even found an album on flickr titled “Post Offices and New Deal Art” that shows these buildings and their artwork from around the country (Mount Vernon included!). I don’t know who “jimmywayne” is, but he’s logged a lot of hours around this country photographing post offices! Very impressive if you ask me.
As we mentioned in an earlier post, our old post office is no longer the local post office, but the building still survives—a part of our town’s history and our country’s history.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Friday, February 24, 2012
The New Running Joke
When we started our project, the running joke was “when will we ever get our first photograph?” We talked to lots of folks, we saw lots of pictures, but we couldn’t seem to find anyone who had the rights to any of the pictures they showed us. It was frustrating to say the least. Eventually though we got our first picture, and many more.
Now the running joke seems to be “when will we ever meet the mayor?” Mount Vernon has a new mayor. We had met with the former mayor and gotten some great photos from his office. We want to keep the lines of communication open with the leader of our fair city, so we feel it is important to introduce ourselves to the new mayor. But every time we attempt to meet her, something happens. One time we were going to see her at a meeting at the library, but the meeting got canceled due to the big snow storm. Another week we were going to attend a Friday morning coffee but we ended up with a meeting at the historical society instead (just a shade more important). Finally, FINALLY, today we were going to be able to attend a Friday morning coffee and hopefully meet the mayor. This coffee had the advantage of happening at Mark’s on Pine Square. And Mark was another one of our targets. Double bonus!
Unfortunately the “Mayor’s coffee” was also attended by Congressman Rick Larson. Great. Instead of a tiny, intimate gathering, there were dozens of citizens crammed into Mark’s and they all wanted to gripe at Congressman Larson. The mayor hardly got a word in edgewise. We never got within ten feet of her. Struck out again.
But it still turned into a banner morning! We did find several other interesting folks in the crowd who gave us suggestions, names and contacts. And when almost everyone had cleared out we accosted Mark. First off, he is a super nice, friendly, approachable man. Secondly, he has boxes of old negatives from Bill Foreman (hope I’m spelling that right) who was a local photographer for several decades (approximately 30s through the 60s). Holy Cow! Just reaching into the box the first envelope of negatives contained shots of the semiprofessional baseball team, The Milkmaids, from the 40s. LOVE IT! We walked out with the first box and can’t wait to start digging through all those negatives. Happy Friday!
Now the running joke seems to be “when will we ever meet the mayor?” Mount Vernon has a new mayor. We had met with the former mayor and gotten some great photos from his office. We want to keep the lines of communication open with the leader of our fair city, so we feel it is important to introduce ourselves to the new mayor. But every time we attempt to meet her, something happens. One time we were going to see her at a meeting at the library, but the meeting got canceled due to the big snow storm. Another week we were going to attend a Friday morning coffee but we ended up with a meeting at the historical society instead (just a shade more important). Finally, FINALLY, today we were going to be able to attend a Friday morning coffee and hopefully meet the mayor. This coffee had the advantage of happening at Mark’s on Pine Square. And Mark was another one of our targets. Double bonus!
Unfortunately the “Mayor’s coffee” was also attended by Congressman Rick Larson. Great. Instead of a tiny, intimate gathering, there were dozens of citizens crammed into Mark’s and they all wanted to gripe at Congressman Larson. The mayor hardly got a word in edgewise. We never got within ten feet of her. Struck out again.
But it still turned into a banner morning! We did find several other interesting folks in the crowd who gave us suggestions, names and contacts. And when almost everyone had cleared out we accosted Mark. First off, he is a super nice, friendly, approachable man. Secondly, he has boxes of old negatives from Bill Foreman (hope I’m spelling that right) who was a local photographer for several decades (approximately 30s through the 60s). Holy Cow! Just reaching into the box the first envelope of negatives contained shots of the semiprofessional baseball team, The Milkmaids, from the 40s. LOVE IT! We walked out with the first box and can’t wait to start digging through all those negatives. Happy Friday!
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Collaboration Rocks!
A week and a half ago there was a meeting…a BIG meeting. Sadly, Jessica was sick as a dog, luckily Kari was feeling good and on her game! She met with the new director of the Skagit County Historical Society, Clark McAbee, to discuss the possibility of obtaining a few photographs from their extensive collection. Permission was granted and we’ve been jumping for joy ever since. We can’t think of a better collaborator for this project.
And now for some shameless promotion, for those of you who are in the area. Have you been to the Skagit County Historical Museum in LaConner? If not, you should plan a trip. It is a great day trip with some fascinating photos and artifacts. The first time we went there we even had all the kids in-tow (at the time, three six year olds and a four year old) and they were thoroughly entertained. The staff kindly provided them with a scavenger hunt and coloring pages. Way to make history fun!
And now for some shameless promotion, for those of you who are in the area. Have you been to the Skagit County Historical Museum in LaConner? If not, you should plan a trip. It is a great day trip with some fascinating photos and artifacts. The first time we went there we even had all the kids in-tow (at the time, three six year olds and a four year old) and they were thoroughly entertained. The staff kindly provided them with a scavenger hunt and coloring pages. Way to make history fun!
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Why Didn’t I Think of That?
Today I’ve been doing a lot of research on line. History is funny. It is what it is; you can’t change the history of a place. That might make it seem very cut and dried, black and white, objective really. But everyone knows that isn’t the case. All history has been filtered through the perspectives, judgments and views of people—ultimate subjectivity! The people who lived it, the people who recorded it, the people who write about it today. You can read so many different accounts or takes on the same thing—it can truly make my head spin.
As I was reading at the computer, my head spinning, my five year old climbed into my lap (mainly to annoy me I think). “What’s this map for?” “It’s an old survey map showing the log jam that used to be here?” “Is it still here?” “No, getting rid of that jam is what made Mount Vernon a successful, viable city over a hundred years ago. Before they got rid of that, big boats couldn’t come up the river.” There was a long pause while I hoped he was thinking about the wisdom I’d just dropped on him. Then he stated, “I think the beavers made it. They needed higher water so they built a dam. But it’s not so nice for beavers to do that so boats can’t go across the places.” Thanks for adding a new perspective Little Man. I needed a good chuckle this afternoon.
As I was reading at the computer, my head spinning, my five year old climbed into my lap (mainly to annoy me I think). “What’s this map for?” “It’s an old survey map showing the log jam that used to be here?” “Is it still here?” “No, getting rid of that jam is what made Mount Vernon a successful, viable city over a hundred years ago. Before they got rid of that, big boats couldn’t come up the river.” There was a long pause while I hoped he was thinking about the wisdom I’d just dropped on him. Then he stated, “I think the beavers made it. They needed higher water so they built a dam. But it’s not so nice for beavers to do that so boats can’t go across the places.” Thanks for adding a new perspective Little Man. I needed a good chuckle this afternoon.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Deciphering Notes
Well the lunch meeting we had to cancel due to snow happened last Thursday. I think my head might STILL be spinning. It was a fun and fabulous lunch, but once Wendy got on a roll thinking of names, places, businesses, ideas, etc., it quickly became overwhelming. Don’t get me wrong, overwhelming in a good way! But suddenly we’re looking at a long list of names and we need to get busy and serious! Goals, plans, deadlines, work…
Our next step needs to be an article in the paper. Fortunately the paper has been on a little run of printing historical stories themselves recently. I’m hoping they will see an article about us as a benefit and something that will play into their current theme. Anyone have a friend who is a reporter for the Skagit Valley Herald?
Our next step needs to be an article in the paper. Fortunately the paper has been on a little run of printing historical stories themselves recently. I’m hoping they will see an article about us as a benefit and something that will play into their current theme. Anyone have a friend who is a reporter for the Skagit Valley Herald?
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Snow Days
Today was supposed to be a lunch to discuss Mount Vernon history with a new acquaintance. But since today is our third snow day in a row, we are stuck home with children. Hopefully we can reschedule for next week.
While snow is on our minds, how about a great photo:
See, this probably isn’t the worst snow storm to ever hit Mount Vernon.
While snow is on our minds, how about a great photo:
Friday, January 13, 2012
Who Knew?
There is a building at the corner of 3rd and Montgomery in downtown Mount Vernon. It is a very unassuming building; we’ve probably driven by it hundreds of times without as much as a glance. It is boxy and brick and somewhat plain except for a fancy white frame surrounding the skinny front doors. Currently it is the property of Skagit Valley College. But it turns out this building has a story. And oh how we love stories!
From 1935 until 1964 this building was Mount Vernon’s Post Office. It was a W.P.A. Project that employed contractors, construction workers and several skilled artisans. The project also included a commission for a special artist. Ambrose McCarthy Patterson was born in Australia, studied both there and in Paris, worked in Hawaii and San Francisco before making his way to Seattle. In 1919 he established the University of Washington School of Painting and Design. He created a mural at the head of the lobby that depicted rural farm land in the background and a milk processing and evaporating plant at work. At the time, milk processing was the major industry of the area.
And guess what? History survives! As soon as we read about this painting we were off to the old post office to see what remained. The lobby has been preserved with gorgeous wood paneling, an intricate tile floor and the mural:
Please forgive the quick, and somewhat grainy, cell phone picture. Now for another trail to follow—wouldn’t it be incredible to find a photograph of Patterson working on the mural back in the 30’s?
From 1935 until 1964 this building was Mount Vernon’s Post Office. It was a W.P.A. Project that employed contractors, construction workers and several skilled artisans. The project also included a commission for a special artist. Ambrose McCarthy Patterson was born in Australia, studied both there and in Paris, worked in Hawaii and San Francisco before making his way to Seattle. In 1919 he established the University of Washington School of Painting and Design. He created a mural at the head of the lobby that depicted rural farm land in the background and a milk processing and evaporating plant at work. At the time, milk processing was the major industry of the area.
And guess what? History survives! As soon as we read about this painting we were off to the old post office to see what remained. The lobby has been preserved with gorgeous wood paneling, an intricate tile floor and the mural:
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