Friday, August 28th, 2015
Fort mural takes shape
Four paintings showing village's history planned
By William Kincaid
Photo by William Kincaid/The Daily Standard
In a bid to enhance the historic feel of downtown Fort Recovery, four murals, including this one New Bremen artist Dan Keyes is creating on the side of Trusty Woods restaurant, will take shape over the next several months.
FORT RECOVERY - A mural depicting the 1913 Fort Recovery Jubilee is slowly unfolding on the side of the Trusty Woods restaurant at the corner of Butler and Wayne streets.
Commissioned to New Bremen artist Dan Keyes, it's the first of four planned murals intended to enhance "the historic aura of our town and ultimately increase the visitors who come and learn more about our significant place in history," Fort Recovery State Museum Director Nancy Knapke said.
"We've been through different communities that have them," said Ted Romer, who's involved in several community organizations. He noted Keyes has painted murals in Coldwater.
Keyes' work schedule, Knapke said, is dependent upon temperature and moisture. He's using muted colors to convey a nostalgic look.
"The Jubilees at that time were held on Wayne Street and featured trapeze artists, the balloon ascension, the Ferris wheel, etc. At that time, whenever a midway event was about to occur, a cannon was fired to alert the crowd. Look for some of these features to appear on the wall," Knapke said.
Some of Keyes' local work includes a 40-foot-wide and 15-foot-high mural to honor Coldwater's 175th anniversary. The mural, which captures the town's history in a single rendering, is located on the east side of Coldwater High School near the entrance.
Other murals planned for Fort Recovery are a battle scene and a welcome-to-the-village scene. A committee is still brainstorming for other ideas. Future murals will be painted on the sides of other Fort Recovery businesses: Nature's Corner, the Sutter building, which houses a Grand Lake Eye-care branch and Wayne IGA, all on Wayne Street.
Officials hope to see the murals completed in time for the village's 225th anniversary celebration, to be held June 12-19, 2016.
The murals are being funded by an alliance of community organizations - the Fort Recovery Historical Society, Project Recovery and the Fort Recovery State Museum - as well as private donations.
No tax dollars are being spent on the murals, Project Recovery spokesperson Lori Kaup emphasized at this week's public meeting about village growth.
"There are no tax dollars in the murals uptown. (It's) totally money that has been given by Fort Recovery community members, in fact a large amount of money, plus Project Recovery, the historical society and the museum," she said.
