Fort Scott is home to a little known art treasure. Tucked
away in the decommissioned courtroom on the second floor of the post office is
a mural by Oscar E Berninghaus titled “Border Gateways.” Photos don't do it justice. I estimate it to be approximately 8 feet tall and 20 feet wide.
Berninghaus was born in 1874 in St. Louis. Self-taught, he
sketched the St. Louis waterfront where tales from trappers and cowboys sparked
a fascination with the old west. Best known for his work with the Taos Society
of Artists, he also competed for commissions to decorate public buildings. In
1937, he won the commission for the Fort Scott mural.
Often misidentified as “WPA art,” the post office and
courtroom murals were commissioned by the Section of Fine Arts. “The Section,”
as it was commonly called, was a project of the Treasury Department. The
Section’s main function was to enhance public spaces with high quality art.
Unlike WPA projects, artists were not chosen on the basis of need, but through
nationwide competitions. There are 22 intact Section paintings and murals in
Kansas.
The Fort Scott mural is in excellent condition – the colors
clean and vibrant. While not open to the public, post office personnel will
proudly show it upon request. The Bourbon County Review thanks Todd McDermed,
Supervisor of Customer Services, and Postmaster Robert Vacca for the chance to
view this Kansas treasure.
