How to submit suggestions
Middletown Mural Committee
Call (513) 705-4000
E-mail jbober@i-fiber.net
MIDDLETOWN — The Middletown Mural Committee is seeking a new home for the “1914 Middletown Street Carnival” mural recently removed from the parking garage downtown.
The final panels of the mural were removed Thursday, June 24, in preparation for demolition of the garage.
Committee members say the painting is based on a photograph taken at the intersection of Broad Street and Central Avenue in 1914.
The mural depicts a street carnival taking place at that intersection when Broad Street continued north through where the city building at One Donham Plaza is now erected.
The photograph was recreated as a mural by Franklin artist Eric Henn in 2004. Standing at 20 feet high and 72 feet wide, the street festival mural was the first to be placed in the city by the committee, said member Judy Bober.
The committee is seeking community input on the new home of the mural, which had a price tag of $17,000 when it was first created.
“It is going to have to be a particular building and we are looking to keep it downtown because it depicts downtown,” Bober said. “But I think it is nice to invite the community for suggestions because you never know what treasure is around the corner.”
After reviewing suggestions, the mural committee will contact prospective building owners to reach an agreement on placement.
Bober said they would like to get the mural replaced this year.
There are two other murals by Henn in downtown Middletown.
One is located on the back of the mural committee’s office building, 2 N. Main St.
The other is located on the side of the TV Middletown building facing Broad Street.
Bober said a new mural is in the works for this summer.
Details are not finalized, but the mural would be located on the side of the Department of Job & Family Services building, 1021 Central Ave.
Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2843 or jheffner@coxohio.com.
About the Author