Heritage Mural ....

As many of you know we have been having issues with our pool.  Sadly, it has been determined that it just isn't fixable and we are going to have to remove it.  It's will be very sad to see it go as this was one of the many selling features of the house when we bought it.  But that was 20 plus years ago and the pool was a few years old at that time.  Nothing last forever. 

Back in December the radio station that I listen to was having their annual Holiday Auction.  One of the auction items just happened to be an above ground pool.  As there were no bids on it in the eleventh hour of the auction, we threw our hats in the ring and bid the minimum. Well, we got it!

So today we went up to the store that offered the auction item ... the store is located in Pen Argyl, PA, which is about 30 minutes away.  As we were pulling up the store I saw this mural on the side of the building.  I asked the gentleman at the pool place if he knew anything about it ... turns out he didn't!  And didn't even know it was there!!!

Thanks to Google I found out that the mural is part of the Heritage Mural Education Program.   To date six murals have been painted .... mostly by students aged 10-17.  It sounds like an amazing program!  I may have go check out all the other murals someday!

This mural is titled "Homefront". The project started in the winter of 2013 with discussions for determining the subject matter.  Research followed with students visiting the Slate Belt Heritage Center and the Slate Belt Museum to pour over memorabilia looking for specifics. Two photos caught the attention of students that documented troop trains that had stopped on Robinson Ave during WWII. The students were drawn to these photos and to their source, “Homefront” a one-of-a-kind magazine produced in the Slate Belt during World War II. The magazine was shipped overseas to active duty troops, and is credited with boosting morale by providing a connection to life at home throughout the war. Painting of the mural started in June 2014. 

"Really, the whole thing had an impact on me as an artist. It was way out of my comfort zone. I've gained a new interest in perspective drawing and I plan on studying it further."   Sara Dale, age 14, student artist