In the 1930's, the "New Deal" was good to Allentown. Our park system was enriched by monumental stone construction under the WPA. We also received one of the architectural gems of our area, the magnificent art deco post office. Constructed during 1933-34, no detail was spared in making the lobby an ageless classic. The floor is adorned with handmade Mercer tiles from Doylestown. Muralist Gifford Reynolds Beal worked thru 1939 portraying the Valley's cultural and industrial history.
Unfortunately for history and culture, this architectural gem is now being targeted for NIZ private/public enrichment. Several architectural treasures were demolished for the arena, along with Allentown's mercantile history. The Postal Service has signed off on the building, and the developer is chomping at the bit. The real tragedy is that the other new buildings are not even full, but with private construction being funded by taxpayers, there is no need to worry about such details as occupancy rates. Efforts to save this irreplaceable building may start and end on this blog. The Morning Call, itself a partner in the NIZ, has taken a back seat on such matters.
The 83 year old photograph, part of my private collection, is the contractor's documentation of the project's progress. The back of the photo states; Taken Sept 1 - 34 showing lobby, floor, screens, desks, completed & fixtures hung
photograph will enlarge when clicked
reprinted from previous years
Not sure if this is what spurred today's post, but my wife was on SnapFace or one of the other socials last night and saw a comment from someone complaining about "Swastikas" among the Post Office floor tiles.
ReplyDeleteThankfully, others educated the person complaining that they weren't actually swastikas.
But with today's wreck-it-first mob-mentality, you have to wonder how long it is before some ignorant idiot (or group of idiots) takes it upon themselves to damage the post office floor.