SPRINGFIELD, OH — When the gas crisis hit America in the 1970s, citizens and businesses took steps to help conserve energy. The Postal Service was no exception.

Postal facilities across the nation took drastic measures, lowering ceilings, creating mechanical ductwork and reducing the size of retail lobbies.

When these changes were made at the Springfield, OH, Post Office – an Art Deco building constructed in 1934 – most of the building’s history was covered up, including two 7-foot murals and a two-story skylight.

But thanks to a collaboration effort between the Postal Service and the Springfield Preservation Alliance, the building is getting a second chance to reflect its true history.

“This has been in the works for a couple of years,” said Springfield Postmaster Sue Vanzant. “We sit in the heart of Springfield and I can’t think of a better way to help with the revitalization of the downtown area.”

Tom Schick, a facilities engineer with the Eastern Facilities Service Office, said the project is a win-win for the Postal Service and the community. “These murals have been hidden for many years, and the Postal Service believes they’re for everyone to enjoy. Over the next two weeks, we will be working to open up the area to make it more reflective of the time when the building was constructed.”

Vanzant plans to use to the additional space for passport fairs, business meetings, retail functions, festivals and other customer-oriented events.

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An independent federal agency, the U.S. Postal Service is the only delivery service that reaches every address in the nation, 149 million residences, businesses and Post Office Boxes, six days a week. It has 34,000 retail locations and relies on the sale of postage, products and services, not tax dollars, to pay for operating expenses. Named the Most Trusted Government Agency five consecutive years by the Ponemon Institute, the Postal Service has annual revenue of $75 billion and delivers nearly half the world’s mail.