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Civil War art mimics life
The history of the Civil War in this region is well documented and almost equally commemorated with markers and statues and museums. One such memorial can be found in Pleasant Hill, Mo.
A mural in the United States Post Office in Pleasant Hill gives viewers a look into the past and what much of the region looked like and how many of the residents of western Missouri felt after the lifting of General Order No. 11 and the end of the war.
Order No. 11 has been called the "harshest measure ever taken by an American government against civilians." Taken against thousands of resident civilians of Bates, Cass, Jackson and Vernon counties on Aug. 25, 1863, it forced those not swearing Union allegiance or not living within 1 mile of Independence, Harrisonville, Pleasant Hill, Hickman Mills and part of Kansas City to evacuate their homes and leave the belongings they could not carry behind. Abandoned items not stolen by Bushwhackers, whom the order was meant to weaken, were taken by Union troops or burned.
The mural "Back Home: April 1865" depicts three generations of a family's return to their Cass County home after the war's end. The saddened, war-worn family stands on the burned remains of their home; all that's left is part of a chimney some fence and a charred tree. A horse and wagon is in the background. The gray clouds of war cast a somber hue on most of the painting, but they are breaking on one side of the picture and the sun -- a symbol of everlasting hope -- is beginning to shine once more.
The painting was commissioned by the U.S. government and created by Texas artist Tom Lea. The 12-foot, 6-inch-by-5-foot, 6-inch oil on canvas work was installed in three separate panels in 1939 as part of the Public Works of Art Project during the Great Depression. That government project commissioned artists, writers and musicians to keep working to avoid a loss of the nation's cultural heritage.
Lea spent about a month in Pleasant Hill in 1939 supervising the installation of the painting and touching up the joints of the three segments. The painting was restored in 1992, according to Postmaster Richard Strahle. Many people stop in the post office throughout the year just to view the painting, Strahle said.
To get to the Pleasant Hill Post Office, travel north on U.S. 71 Highway to Harrisonville and take the Highway 7 north exit. Follow that to Pleasant Hill and at the second traffic light turn left on Cedar Street. At the first stop sign, Lake Street, turn left one block to the Post Office. The mural is in the main lobby.