The mural, described by Purke as “a skyline in Skyline,” was placed above the eating bar of the Skyline Chili Restaurant at 1775 W. Main St. in time for the closing months of the 2014 bicentennial celebration.
Her pen-and-ink line drawings bring to life history through a dozen buildings/structures ranging from the 1808 Overfield Tavern, the 1880s historic Courthouse, the Ivan Terrel Fountain on the Public Square and the 1950s Hobart Arena. There’s also a salute to the WACO airplanes built in Troy in the 1920s-’40s with a biplane pulling a Troy, Ohio, banner.
Purke created each drawing either for previous projects or for inclusion in the mural.
The project grew out of a discussion she had with store general manager Mike Fariello around three years ago when a business remodel was under way. The store already featured local sports related memorabilia, sparking the conversation between Fariello and Purke, a customer with her husband, Terry.
“I approached Mike and said it would be really cool to have some local images in the store that would showcase the history and heritage of our area,” she recalled.
“When she proposed the idea, I thought, ‘Wow, what a concept,’ ” Fariello said. He ran the idea past corporate staff because of costs involved and received corporate blessing.
The two thought about the project for a time, or as Purke said, “It percolated for awhile,” before activity picked with the bicentennial celebration.
A couple of drafts by Purke were posted in the store with pushpins to gauge public reaction. “The public loved it,” Fariello said. “People love the idea of a Troy skyline in the Troy Skyline.”
The store has a supply of Skyline Mural brochures that include a legend with a short history of each of the buildings/structures featured.
Purke estimates more than 200 hours went in to the mural’s creation and production. She took her pen-and-ink line drawings to a local business where they were scanned. The images were produced on Plexiglas panels with no-glare glass and “bulletproof” surface so the mural could be cleaned easily.
“I was really excited about the project.” Purke said. “My husband and I have always been history buffs, very interested in historical awareness. I thought this would be a wonderful way to do it.”
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