Oyster Bay Sites

The historic 1936 post office in Oyster Bay, New York was constructed as a federally sponsored Public Works Administration (PWA) project with Treasury Department funds. A 1933 article in the Suffolk County News described the PWA allotments for this and other nearby post offices: "Actual allotments for post office buildings in Nassau and Suffolk Counties, amounting to $502,430, have been made by the Federal Emergency Administration of Public Works. This sum will provide three new post office buildings in Suffolk and four in Nassau, as follows: Suffolk—Bay Shore, $71,270; East Hampton, $73,400; Riverhead, $81,000. Nassau—Floral Park, $67,760; Garden City, $84,300; Port...

This 1936 post office contains multiple examples of New Deal artwork, all funded by the Treasury Relief Art Project (TRAP). "The prominent American artist illustrator and author Ernest Peixotto was commissioned to paint five murals which are in themselves, a tour of historic Oyster Bay, depicting scenes from 1653 to 1936. The vaulted ceiling was painted by Peixotto assistant, Arthur Sturges and depicts beautiful women representing different countries sending mail to North America on ships and planes. Mercury, the winged messenger, sits atop the dome to receive the mail with speed. Leo Lentelli, a noted Italian sculptor, whose work can be seen...

The federal Work Projects Administration worked to improve the Town Hall in Oyster Bay, NY during the 1930s. One modest project in 1938 involved providing painting, varnishing, and waxing improvements for this as well as other municipal buildings in the town.