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St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Lee Enterprises

Thursday, July 23, 2009 8:45 PM CDT
Depot mural still mystery;
clues sought

By HERB MEEKER, Staff Writer
hmeeker@jg-tc.com

MATTOON — A mural uncovered during restoration of the Illinois Central Railroad Depot has drawn some national attention, said Jackie Record of the Depot Project Committee.

But no one has solved the mystery of its origin, yet.

Record and other supporters of the Depot restoration have been making contacts locally, statewide and across the country to gain answers on the origin of the mural once painted over and hidden by drop ceilings on the ground level of the passenger depot that opened in 1918 and still serves as an Amtrak passenger station. The mural includes classical structures on a shore of a tranquil lake or sea with a setting sun and mountain in the background. Unfortunately, parts of the mural are peeling or missing.

“I have contacted people with knowledge of the Works Progress Administration from the 1930s. And the USO Foundation in Washington D.C. I have also contacted historical preservation organizations in Springfield and none of them are aware of this mural,” said Record during Tuesday’s Mattoon City Council meeting.

The USO or United Service Organization has traditionally provided food, refreshments, recreation and assistance to military personnel. A USO lounge operated in the old restaurant space in the depot during World War II. Record is hoping veterans or USO volunteers in Mattoon might come forward with memories of the mural if it was in place when they visited that lounge.

“Maybe they could help us on this,” Record said after the meeting.

Another possibility is that the mural was created by the old depot restaurant management. That restaurant closed during the Great Depression and reopened later as the USO lounge.

“This mural could have been through the initiative of the restaurant. It could have been a way to brighten the interior,” Record said.

But the mural has not seen the light of day until this year when removal of walls of old offices and ceiling brought in sunshine. Paint had also covered the mural at one time as well.

The future of the mural is in limbo for now, Record told city officials. Contractors are leaving it alone for now. But some remodeling plans prior to the discovery would make the mural disappear again and the feasibility of saving the artwork might not be possible.

Contractors have been sidetracking some residents interested in looking at the mural. Record said it concerns workplace safety for now at this stage of the restoration. The only access to that area is through an area where demolition and construction is underway.

“For now, they could look at the beautiful photos the newspaper published,” Record said.

Images of the mural can be found in a photo slideshow on the newspapers’ Web site at www.jg-tc.com/multimedia.

Contact Herb Meeker at hmeeker@jg-tc.com or 238-6869.

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just watching wrote on Jul 23, 2009 8:38 AM:

" Another one for Jeraldo Riviera.lol "

Rohn Gordon wrote on Jul 23, 2009 9:14 AM:

" Lee Speakman worked there for many years when I was young. I have no idea if he is still alive or anything about him. "

jrhendren wrote on Jul 24, 2009 12:01 AM:

" At least they are not doing like the last found murals. Remember when the old Cinema 3 was torn down. They found murals on the walls and just tore them down. No pictures or nothing. "