Fading art, lasting history: Mural preservation project begins in Pine Mountain
As a mural showcasing the railroading history of Pine Mountain continues to fade, an effort to raise the money needed to restore it and preserve eight other murals depicting the town’s history, culture and character has begun.
The Trains Mural, by John Christian, is about 600 square feet and painted on the Broad Street side of the Old South Bazaar Antiques building, 134 McDougald Ave., in this Harris County town.
“It is the only one that has faded and needs to be repainted,” Julia Keating, executive director of the Pine Mountain Tourism Association, told the Ledger-Enquirer. “The other murals, we can put a UV coating on them and maintain them for about eight to 10 years, depending on their location to the sun.”
The association has partnered with the Chipley Historical Center to sell a limited edition run of 100 signed and numbered prints reproduced from Christian’s original concept drawing of the Trains Mural. Each print will be sold for $150. If all the prints are sold, the $15,000 raised would fund the project.
“The Trains Mural is more than paint on a wall — it’s a visual story of Pine Mountain’s heritage and a point of pride for our community,” Keating said in a news release announcing the project. “By offering these signed prints from the original concept drawing, we’re giving supporters a meaningful way to own a piece of that story while directly investing in its preservation.”
Artist Annette Wade, who worked with Christian on other Pine Mountain murals, is scheduled to begin working on the project this fall.
Project organizers said a printed brochure and self-guided tour of the nine murals in Pine Mountain also are planned.
“These murals tell stories from rail history to local landmarks, and they contribute significantly to Pine Mountain’s sense of place,” Keating said in the news release. “They beautify our town, spark curiosity and invite people to slow down and explore.”
More information on the print sale is available at pinemountainga.org. Those interested in making a donation for this project may do so at the Chipley Historical Center website.
