A local historian has scheduled a free talk at the Bovina Public Library Wednesday, Sept. 17, spotlighting the history behind the 1940 Delhi Post Office mural.
In recognition of the event, a U.S. Postal Service pictorial postmark will be available at the Delhi Post Office from Sept. 17 to Oct. 17.
Annette Corvelo, librarian at the Bovina Public Library, said the Delhi Postmaster Max Sapinsky loved the mural and suggested a commemorative postmark in recognition of the Wednesday talk, similar to those found for limited periods during holiday seasons.
This led to the creation of the Anti-Rent War post office mural station postmark.
“We’re trying to advertise that, to go and get it stamped, which is really cool,” Corvelo said.
“I hope that people like it,” she continued.
The postmark was designed by local artist Scott Hill, a news release stated. Individuals can ask for the postmark at the Delhi Post Office.
Ray LaFever will be delivering the talk, “By the People: Rediscovering a Delaware County Masterpiece,” from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, which is also Constitution Day. It will focus on the history of the mural, entitled “The Down-Rent War.”
The mural depicts the Anti-Rent War, which happened largely in Andes, Bovina and Roxbury, Corvelo said.
During the war, which took place in New York from 1839 to 1845, Delaware County tenant farmers “organized powerful resistance to the oppressive rent system of wealthy landowners,” according to a news release.
Corvelo said 1,400 pieces of artwork were created and installed in post office locations throughout the country between 1934 and 1943. These projects were part of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal program and were commissioned through the U.S. Treasury Department.
Mary Earley was the artist responsible for the Delhi mural. She was also a winner of the New Deal 48-states competition, which was held to choose artists for murals in each state.
Corvelo said the study Earley submitted illustrating the art she was hoping to put in the post office was not signed to eliminate bias. She ultimately was one of only a handful of women whose artwork was chosen, she added.
Corvelo added that there is a recent revival of discussions surrounding the Anti-Rent War, with an art opening in Andes about a month ago spotlighting different artists with different interpretations of the war.
Information cards are now available at the post office, which include additional details on the upcoming talk and a reprint of the mural itself.
The overall project, to boost awareness of the mural, is funded by a $4,100 grant administered by the Roxbury Arts Group, Corvelo said. She and Project Coordinator Pamela Benson applied for the grant.
A news release stated that the project was made possible by funds from the Delaware County Arts Grant, which is part of a regrant program funded by the New York state Council on the Arts.
In June, Andes Central School students visited the post office to learn more about the mural and its history, according to Daily Star archives. Corvelo said more student events will likely be held in October.
At the end of the Wednesday program, there will be a T-shirt giveaway and reception.
“I think that the U.S. government and our constitution are very important things, (like) people’s rights, civil disobedience,” Corvelo said. “That’s what makes America great.”