of the mural is a reminder that a trolley
used to pass through Girard, and near the
top of the mural, just right of center, is the
Girard Dinor—spelled according to local
tradition—that was a popular trolley stop.
At the top left of the mural is a reminder
of many other travelers who passed through
Girard. This vignette in the mural includes
the First Unitarian Universalist Church
of Girard and a “north star” quilt block.
Legend has it that Underground Railroad
conductors hung north star-patterned
quilts on their clotheslines to show the way
north. Chaffee Wolfe says the Unitarian
church’s pastor, Rev. Charles L. Shipman,
the unofficial superintendent of the Western
Pennsylvania Underground Railroad,
organized a network to hide people
escaping from slavery and take them to
boats on Lake Erie bound for freedom
in Canada.
Girard’s Renowned Industry
The mural also celebrates Girard’s
industry and manufacturing history. A toy
train is included in the mural to represent
Girard Model Works, later Marx Toys that
was a major employer in the area from 1934
to 1974.
You’ll also see a bountiful harvest of
grapes, pumpkins, and apples, representing
the thriving agricultural industry in the area.
Miller who painted the fisherman, says
many people aren’t aware that fishing is also
a big industry for the Girard community.
“Members of the Pittsburgh Steelers,
celebrities, and others come here to fish,
drawing a lot of people to our campgrounds
and stores,” she says. The mural also depicts
boating and water sports, which are also
popular tourist attractions.
Features that Are
Uniquely Girard
When you look closely, you’ll find details
in the mural that are unique to Girard, such
as the statue of “Shep,” the dog that used to
visit his late owner’s grave every day—the
statue is now safely inside the borough
building after it was stolen and recovered.
A fireman’s dress uniform hat with the
number of the local volunteer fire company
sits on the bench in front of the dinor,
and the trolley includes the name “Yellow
Jackets” to honor local athletes.
The mural also includes the archway
to Lake Erie Community Park, a popular
spot for picnics, watching the sunset, and
community events such as the annual car
show, and the well-known white and yellow
houses that are now a part of the Battles
Museums of Rural Life.
The center of the mural illustrates
one of the oldest parts of Girard, a
street scene with the United Methodist
Church (including the steeple that was
lost in a storm in the 1950s) and the First
Presbyterian Church of Girard that was
destroyed by fire shortly after the artists
began work on the mural project.
The artists added their own desire to
make the mural that people of all ages could
enjoy. “We included animals to bring life
to the mural,” says Chaffee Wolfe, such as
the mouse on the clock, a nod to “Hickory
Dickory Dock.” If you visit the mural with
children, it may be fun to have them find all
of the animals, including a cat in a window.
How to Bring History
to Life
During the 18 months from the lunch
with brainstorming about a project to
benefit their community until the official
unveiling at Dan Rice Days on Aug. 1,
2019, the artists embarked on a busy, but
rewarding journey.
None had ever painted an outdoor mural,
so they enlisted the mentorship of artists
Tom Ferraro and Ed Grout, and even
joined them for some hands-on experience
working on the mural at Larry’s Central
Market on Sassafras Street in Erie.
To fund the Girard mural project,
Miller worked with Erie Arts and Culture
to submit a grant application to the
Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, and
American Legion Post 494 in Girard
served as fiscal sponsor for the project,
managing donations and reimbursing the
artists for supplies.
Rick York of York Seaway donated the
use of his building to give the artists a
place to work, and Ron and Sandy Platz
provided the artists with their “canvas,” a
wall of their building at the corner of Main
and Myrtle.
The artists didn’t paint the mural
directly onto the building, but rather
devised a grid from a prototype, and
projected sections onto more than 60
3x5-foot sections of Polytab mural fabric.
“We really didn’t see what the final mural
would look like until all of the panels were
done,” says Chaffee Wolfe.
Hamilton says when the panels were
complete, the artists watched the weather
to find a few rain-free days to apply the
mural to the wall. The process, says
Hamilton, is similar to wallpapering. It
involved putting adhesive on the wall,
hanging the mural by numbered sections
and then applying varnish over it.
Members of the Girard Borough Public
Works Department lent a hand, speeding
the process.
Jeanne Miller, Girard Borough council
member, says, “We told them however
public works could help them out, to let
us know.” She says the borough pitched
in with some materials, including anti-
graffiti coating, to keep the mural safe. The
borough also reconfigured street lights so
they’d shine on the mural at night.
Jeanne Miller also attended the project’s
“community paint day” during which
community members could lend a hand
to help finish the mural. “It’s fantastic,”
she says. “When Mary Miller called with
the idea, I was astonished that they were
willing to do this. It took many hours.”
“It goes along with what we’re trying
to do in Girard,” she says, citing the
project to refurbish the canons on Main
Street and apply for grants to improve
commercial and residential areas. “It’s one
more thing that will help us promote our
borough,” she says.
To learn more about the mural, visit the
project’s Facebook page: facebook.com/
Our-Town-Mural-184748068887605. n
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