Despite having passed the Franklin Street Station post office innumerable times, its lingering sense of stateliness and grandeur has always eluded me. Each of my fleeting encounters has come as a transient burst of recollection, subtly inviting my curiosity.
This local architectural landmark, with its imposing white columnated facade, emerges starkly from the string of quaint restaurants and retail stores along East Franklin Street. Constructed in 1937, the Old Post Office building appears historic to the average visitor, but even as a longtime resident of Chapel Hill, I never realized the full scope of its history.
The recent installation of mural banners, called “New Voices” in honor of the emergent activism of members of marginalized communities, alludes to the broader historical significance of the Post Office. Stemming from a triumphant past, the square in front of the Post Office, known as the Peace and Justice Plaza, recalls the enduring struggle for equal rights and social justice in Chapel Hill—and the vibrant colors and collage elements on the banners lend visibility to this symbolic site.
Designed by Triangle artist Victoria Primicias, the trio of mural banners employ contemporary motifs recognized as universal signs of justice as well as local emblems, including the state dogwood flower. The banners hang from the Post Office building in the form of a postcard, stamped with a post mark dated March 19, 1964. This day itself represents the march for equality, marking the distribution of a leaflet outside the Post Office by participants in the Holy Week Fast, which was led by two black activists and two white students, and faced a subsequent confrontation with the Klu Klux Klan.
With her artwork, Primicias aims to reinvigorate the Peace and Justice Plaza, which honors generations of community change makers, who, in the shadow of the historic Courthouse, protested in the Civil Rights Movement and Vietnam War demonstrations, as well as participate in current strikes regarding environmental justice, women’s and LGBTQ+ rights, and the death penalty.
By highlighting the community’s emphasis on advocating for change and equality, Primicias also hopes that her artwork may have a positive effect and allow new and long-time residents of Chapel Hill to feel part of a community.
“…The intent of my design is to provide a welcoming space for those who enter the Plaza and to lift their spirits while enjoying the venue,” said Primicias in her artist’s statement.
To accompany Primicias’ artwork, Chapel Hill Poet Laureate C.J. Suitt wrote and performed a poem, titled “The City We Became.” His poetry commemorates the Plaza and the legacy of those who took important steps to attain equity, as well as urges the exigency of future action by encouraging others “To take up the banners of freedom.” Affirming that “If we love and accept each other/We could all be free,” Suitt also preaches for harmony and acceptance of fellow community members of all backgrounds, outlining a forward vision of progress.
With a complementary digital exhibit curated by the Chapel Hill Public Library on the Community History site, visitors can learn more about the fascinating legacy of this storied monument. After visiting the Post Office to view the artwork, those interested in local history can explore the intersecting timelines of the Journey of Reconciliation, the Civil Rights Movement, the Holy Week Fast and the Longest Peace Vigil—all historical milestones that began on the steps of the Post Office, right beneath today’s mural banners.
Photos courtesy of Chapel Hill Community Arts & Culture and Chapel Hill Community History
