Next time you’re waiting in line at the Lewisburg Post Office, look up. There, above the Postmaster’s Office door, is an important relic. A mural, titled “Old Time Camp Meeting,” was painted by New Deal muralist Robert Gates. “These murals appear across the U.S. in post offices and other federal buildings,” says Nora Sutton, a WVU public history graduate student studying New Deal arts programs and their appearance along Rt. 219. I think the murals reflect one of those rare times that the government recognized that art was just as important as industry and business,” says Sutton. “It was a way of bringing art to the masses. Anyone can walk into the post office.” And, you can too. Next time, just remember to look up. (Sarah Mansheim photo and text)
