Crystal Springs, Mississippi was once known as the “Tomatropolis of the World” (and had a big tomato-shaped sign to prove it) and was the largest shipper of tomatoes in the United States (LaTricia M. Nelson-Easley. 2007. Images of America: Copiah County. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing). Apparently, tomatropolis was too difficult to pronounce in recent years, so it was altered to “tomato capital of the world” (Susan M. Enzweiler. (1992). National Register of Historic Places nomination form, Crystal Springs Post Office).
La Cagnina’s “Harvest” was installed in 1943, under the Treasury Bureau Section of Fine Arts program of the New Deal Administration. The rendition is of farm workers and women harvesting and packing tomatoes for shipment. Nelson-Easley’s book includes a number of historic photographs of the actual packing of tomatoes and other vegetables, so it is definitely worth checking out. Tomatoes were wrapped in blue tissue paper (as depicted in the mural) and packed in wooden crates that were built at a factory in Crystal Springs. Apparently, both enterprises contributed to the economy of the community and workers during the 1930s, in a time when many workers were not as fortunate. Vegetables were shipped via train all over the US.
According to La Cagnina, the mural was inappropriately restored when a preservative glaze was applied. He said the glaze gave the mural “black tonality” which altered the “original pearly gray tonality” (Enzweiler). Given the current sad proceedings of selling historic post offices and the uncertainty of the future of these important “people’s art” throughout the US, it at least represents commitment to preservation–so noted by Enzweiler in the nomination form.
The post office is another example of the popular Colonial Revival design used throughout Mississippi and other states during the years of the New Deal construction efforts. Crystal Springs’ example has a feature I don’t recall of other examples, and that is the twin wooden Tuscan columns (Enzweiler) on either side of the doors. The building also features the typical granite steps of this design, along with
…dentilled architrave…cast stone eagle…terrazzo floor…marble wainscoting…wooden vestibule…
seen in this familiar design.
The building was constructed 1940-41. Here’s a little brain teaser to get you ready for the upcoming post on a Colonial Revival post office in another town. The photographs are enhanced in terms of definitions to show the columns. In one nomination form, the columns are described as Tuscan, and in the other nomination form the columns are described as Doric. While apparently from my limited foray into the difference, Doric can be smooth, though is usually fluted, I find no instances of fluted Tuscan. What am I missing?