The Old Post Office Museum and Art Center Graham's Old Post Office nobly blends history, art
When most people think of a museum, they think of relics of days gone by lining shelves, walls and display cases inside a structure that often has some sort of significance itself.
While that may usually be the case, it isn't always. Other museums are housed in modern structures or buildings refurbished by big-city consultants to bring a sophisticated flare to their premises.
The museum gets its name from the building it occupies - Graham's original post office, which opened in May 1936. It remained in operation until its closure in 1992.
A year later, the city was convinced by a group to purchase the post office from the United States Postal Service, and a board was appointed in 1995. A public survey was mounted on whether the building should be a museum or arts center. When the survey came back evenly split, the board decided to make the museum both.
The museum officially opened Oct. 2, 2002 to coincide with the 125th anniversary of the Texas Cattle Raisers Association. Like most of North Texas, ranching and agriculture were major economic drivers in Young County in its early days.
The museum pays homage to its county's early days with its exhibit featuring artifacts from the nearby Loving Ranch.
Numerous branding irons used by ranchers are on display to show the marks cattlemen used to signify which beef was theirs.
Phillip Pinnell also had a hand in the ranching exhibit, donating a collection of horse bits, as well as an ornate collection of spurs.
Saddles from various ranching families, like this one belonging to the Eddleman Brothers and donated by the Dollar family, are also on display.
Oil and natural gas production was also vital to Young County's growth in its early years. The mural "Oil Fields of Graham" by Alexandre Hogue was constructed in 1936 depicting early construction of the city's oil fields. The mural was originally part of the Graham post office and remains intact in the museum.
Another exhibit in the museum showcases old photos of Graham and Young County throughout the years, chronicling its history and evolution.
Museum curator Jim Overcash, center, talks with Barbara Antle and her son, Mike Antle, at the Old Post Office Museum and Art Center on the square in Graham. The facility was the town's main post office from 1936 to 1992 and now is home to historical photos and artifacts of Young County history and a respected art gallery.
Dozens of historic photographs document the early years of Graham and the other communities in Young County at the Old Post Office Museum and Art Center.
An old photograph of Graham, Texas showing the first county courthouse was taken from a hill near Fourth Street.
The west side of Graham's downtown square.
This photograph depicts the construction of the dam on the Brazos River which created Possum Kingdom Lake in 1939.
Jim Overcash, assistant director and curator, puts the "art" in Old Post Office Museum and Art Center. For the last five years, he's continually brought in numerous rotating gallery exhibits that feature paintings, photographs and sculptures.
The museum also hosts the annual Texas Spirit Art Show - a competitive exhibit that features 175-200 entries from the 48 continental U.S. states.
Kaye Franklin's "Impressions of Light and Color" is in the OPOMAC's main gallery through September 2. Franklin's exhibit features impressionist acrylic and oil paintings. An exhibit highlighting Old West cowboys and famous women of the day will follow Franklin's, and will stay up for about three months.
