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Murals lose face as building’s windows come to light
By M.K. Guetersloh
mkguetersloh@pantagraph.com
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BLOOMINGTON — The face of downtown Bloomington is being altered, or more specifically, faces in downtown are being removed. The murals along the side of 320 N. Main St., which depict nine people important to Bloomington-Normal history, were altered this week when the building’s owner opened up windows covered long ago.

The face of Jesse Fell has been cut nearly in half, while the face of Gen. Asahel Gridley has been removed altogether.

“Yes, we have ‘defaced’ the building,” said Fred Wollrab, the building’s owner.

Wollrab said he started interior renovations when his tenant left. In showing the property, interested renters were looking for someplace with an old building feel, including exposed brick and tin ceilings.

When workers ripped into the walls, they discovered two windows.

“We decided the windows would enhance the space and make it more open,” Wollrab said.

While the appearance of the murals has been changed, Peggy Flynn, Downtown Bloomington Association executive director, said the investment in changing the space into something unique and usable is more important.

“That is a key corner in downtown,” Flynn said. “What’s more memorable is the look inside and what tenant goes into the space.”

Wollrab contracted with local artist Mark Blumenshine in 1999 to paint the faces on concrete panels that were put on the exterior of the building.

Fell is the founder of the town of Normal and the Pantagraph. He was instrumental in securing Illinois State University for what became the town of Normal and was a close friend to Abraham Lincoln.

Gridley was integral in Bloomington’s development. Gridley, a figure in the Black Hawk War, took over the failing local light company, the Bloomington Gas Light and Coke Co., in 1857.

Once work on reinstalling the windows is completed, Wollrab said he would consider what to do next with the murals. Likely, the one panel with Fell will be repainted or painted over, he said.

“The other murals will remain and are in need of being touched up,” Wollrab said. “Those windows will kind of be neat for the space, and we can do murals on other spaces around town.”

Take a look
Murals along the north side of 320 N. Main St., near the corner of Main and Monroe streets in downtown Bloomington, have been damaged or eliminated by the restoration of the buildings windows. (Pantagraph/STEVE SMEDLEY)
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Reader comments on this story - 3 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

Jeff Woodard wrote on Oct 29, 2007 12:18 PM:

" Thanks Fred, To consider reproducing a mural somewhere else downtown is a fair and responsible option. Public art is severley lacking in the area. Those who are interested in learning more about the importance of Murals and how to save them can visit: RescuePublicMurals@heritagepreservation.org "

To: Private Property wrote on Oct 25, 2007 12:52 PM:

" I agree with you 100%. However, you may be interested in reading the article in today's paper on the Woodford County zoning considerations regarding off-road vehicles. Also, when considering private property, remember the wind farm issues. It seems private property is only yours to do with as you wish as long as everybody else agrees with you. "

private property wrote on Oct 25, 2007 11:35 AM:

" It's a shame that the murals are being "altered" but this is still a free country and little Fred, as we knew him back in the 60's, has a right to do what he pleases with his own property, expecially since he's the one who came up with the idea of creating the murals in the first place. I have to say in all my travels I have never seen such a display of a community's notables, so it would be good to keep some of the artwork around, or have it duplicated elsewhere. "
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