“Spirit of Communication”
January 28, 2008 at 6:59 am 3 comments
That’s the name of the terra cotta relief that adorns the Forest Hills post office. Next time you walk in or walk by, look up above the doorway. It was fashioned in 1938 by Sten Jacobson, a WPA artist at the time whose livelihood depended on the government’s recognition that art has value and a prime place in society.
Since everything seems up for potential tear-down grabs around here, I’m drawing the line right here and now around this relief. It’s bad enough that all the development in the area is hodgepodged together (in large part because of “interesting” choices made by our local council members), with no sense of fitting in to the area’s original character. We lost the Trylon; we have to keep an eye out for whatever treasures remain.
Including our sorta-kinda version of the Little Mermaid.
Entry filed under: environment, Forest Hills, Queens, Rant, real estate.
3 Comments Add your own
Leave a comment
Trackback this post | Subscribe to the comments via RSS Feed
Splitting Hairs in Forest Hills 
1.
Seth | January 29, 2008 at 1:59 pm
While I grew up about 4 blocks from that post office (Exeter between 68th & Yellowstone) and have lived out of state for most of the last three decades, I will say that I remember the building as it is in your pic — as one of those structures trimmed (hell, built!) in a way we’ll never see again.
I wonder when the USPS will decide to “improve” it by replacing it with something made of aluminum, glass and plastic.
2.
karbeth | January 29, 2008 at 10:07 pm
Seth,
I have that fear too. But recently there were workers repairing the front steps, so that’s a good sign. Now if they could get the internals to work well–it’s rough going, trying to do any business there, and when I had to renew my passport there this summer, I practically went postal at the incompetence.
Thanks for commenting!
3.
susannyny | February 5, 2008 at 10:26 pm
Heck, if they try tearing it down, I’m all for a good old fashioned sit-in!!