In late June of 2019 a group of 200 artists created 15 murals on the brick walls of buildings in the town of Keene, NH. The artists called themselves The Keene Walldogs a reference to a tradition of painters of wall advertisements in the 1800s.
I spent an afternoon walking the streets trying to locate all of the murals, some of which are not visible from the street. I missed the baseball mural and plan to return at a later date.
I’ll start with my favorite mural, one that covered the entire building.
Jennie B. Powers Mural
Jennie B. Powers, was “a maker of humane history.” A humane agent, she fearlessly investigated, arrested,
and prosecuted thousands of cases of abuse of children, women, and animals. The work was dangerous and
physical. Despite death threats, Jennie put herself in harm’s way, intervening in brutal conditions on behalf of
the vulnerable.
Mural location:
South facing 120 Main St@ Eagle Ct.
Designed by:
Elaine Wallis, Signature Sign & Image Niagara Falls ON, Canada and Noella Cotman, Sign-It Cornwall ON, Canada
The Ashuelot River
Named “the place between” by the Penacook, the Ashuelot river boasts the site of the oldest known evidence
of humans in New Hampshire. Spanning 64 miles, the river provided energy for a thriving mill industry. The
Ashuelot offers recreational activities year round and habitat for an abundance of wildlife.
Mural location:
East facing 37 Roxbury St
Designed by:
Lili Payne, Muralist and Scenic Artist Minneapolis, MN co-leading with Scott Gerwit
The Abenaki Mural
The Abenaki of our region, the Sokoki, are the “people who separated,” migrating and regrouping when their survival was challenged. In the 1880s the Sadoques family traveled from Quebec and returned to their homeland, settling in Keene. They brought with them their culture and traditions, and shared their skills, selling Abenaki baskets. Their family became integral to the community.
Mural location:
North facing 9 Court St.
Designed by:
Sonny Franks – Sign Creation Lilburn, GA Mural co-leaders: Eric Skinner & Russell Kelly
Trinity Bicycle Mural
The Trinity Cycle Manufacturing Company of Keene, NH, produced a new “safety” bicycle. The safety bicycle
used pneumatic tires, a smaller frame and wheels, and chain drive to improve steering, safety, comfort, and
speed. Mass-produced, the lighter weight vehicle, with simpler construction and maintenance, was affordably
priced for working people and the middle class.
Mural location:
North facing near 6 Wilson St
Designed by:
Cameron Bortz – Mystic Carved Signs Pawcatuck, Connecticut
Keene State College Mural
Keene State College defined its mission as New Hampshire’s public liberal arts college, firm in the conviction
that a broad knowledge of the arts, humanities, sciences, and social sciences made our students better
teachers, employees, citizens, and lifelong learners. As a result, Keene State College and its students have
been vital to the economic, political, and social development of the region.
Mural location:
North facing Student Center building @ Winchester St
Designed by:
Doug Hancock, Sign Pro Florida Alachua, FL and Nate Grice, Grice Gear Art Factory Paxton IL
Clarence DeMar Mural
“Do most of us want life on the same calm level as a geometrical problem? Certainly we want our pleasures
more varied, with both mountains and valleys of emotional joy, and marathoning furnishes just that.”
The Demar Marathon, an annual race held in Keene, draws runners from all over the world, and honors
Clarence Demar’s legacy of tenacity and resilience.
Mural location:
South facing Emerald St @ 99 Main St rear
Designed by:
Aaron Taylor, Brix Design Pensacola, Florida
The Railroad Mural
As the nexus of the Cheshire, Manchester & Keene, and the Ashuelot Railroads, the city of Keene became one
of the most significant centers of industry in the region. Not only did the railroad provide transportation for
passengers and goods, but the Keene Repair Shops employed hundreds of people in locomotive
manufacturing and repair.
Mural location:
North facing 77-81 Main St
Designed by:
Mike McEvers, Sign Art Studio Indianapolis IN
Dr. Albert Johnston Mural
During WWII, when Dr. Albert Johnston revealed to his four children and his community that his family had
been “passing” for years, the people of Keene, for the most part, found the fact interesting, but not significant.
The revelation and subsequent publicity challenges us to wrestle with the absurd notion of the “one drop
rule” and definitions of race
Mural location:
North facing Lamson St alley @ 35 Main St
Designed by:
Scott ‘Cornbred’ Lindley Mt. Pulaski Illinois
Jonathon Daniels Mural
Jonathan Myrick Daniels, a 26-year-old white seminary student answered the Rev. Martin Luther King
Jr.’s call to help register African-American voters in Alabama. His death while in service to the fight for civil
rights for all Americans inspired many to join the same cause. In 1991, Daniels was designated a martyr by the
Episcopal Church.
location:
South facing 25 Lamson St
Designed by:
Chris Lovelady Vital Signs Thomasville, Georgia
Land Conservation Mural
I was blocked by a delivery truck when I attempted to photograph this mural which is tucked into an alley. I took two photos.
Due to the generosity of several forward-thinking individuals who recognized the value of the area’s
landscape, Keene enjoys a wealth of green spaces, protected lands, and publicly accessible idylls. These
bequests are all the more remarkable because a startlingly large percentage of this land was gifted to the city
in a relatively short span of time.
Mural location:
West facing 25 West St
Designed by:
Noel Weber, Classic Design Studio Boise, IdahoDue to the generosity of several forward-thinking individuals who recognized the value of the area’s
landscape, Keene enjoys a wealth of green spaces, protected lands, and publicly accessible idylls. These
bequests are all the more remarkable because a startlingly large percentage of this land was gifted to the city
in a relatively short span of time.
Mural location:
West facing 25 West St
Designed by:
Noel Weber, Classic Design Studio Boise, Idaho
Keene Sentinel Mural
The Keene Sentinel is one of the oldest continuously published newspapers in the United States.
The weekly New Hampshire Sentinel, produced its first issue on March 23, 1799, and became a daily in 1890
the inauguration of the Keene Evening Sentinel. As a small town newspaper, the Sentinel has brought to light
significant social issues and matters of civic consequence.
Mural location:
South facing 28 Washington St
Designed by:
Joe Diaz – Diaz Sign Art Pontiac, IL
Wyman Tavern Mural
The Wyman Tavern, one of the most historic buildings in Cheshire County, operated as a public house for over
40 years, and was the “hub” of the community in colonial times. On April 15, 1775, at the outbreak of the
Revolution, 29 Minutemen gathered at the Tavern to march to Lexington. This significant historical landmark
can still be visited today.
Mural location:
North facing 3 Washington St.
Designed by:
Jeff Lang – Old Lang Signs Pittsburgh, PA
Catherine Fiske Mural
Catherine Fiske inspired young women to question, to find answers, and to strive towards excellence. She
interwove lessons in chemistry, taxonomy and linguistics into everyday work. Her legacy was her students,
who went on to inspire others; and in the roots of high-quality education, firmly established in the heart of
Keene.
Mural location:
East facing 21 Roxbury St
Designed by:
Manfred Didier, Timber Signs Ofterschwang, Germany
Kingsbury Manufacturing Mural
Renowned for the finest precision cut and finished motor driven toys, Kingsbury Manufacturing launched its
precision tool division in 1920. A pioneer in the machine tool industry, the company specialized in the
production of custom precision drilling machines, revolutionizing production worldwide with the “Kingsbury
Method.”
Mural location:
East facing 16 Church St
Designed by:
Michael Clark – Clark Signs Aledo, IL
Barry Faulkner Mural
Barry Faulkner, Keene’s most acclaimed visual artist, created murals across the country, including several in
Keene. His two most famous works, displayed in the National Archives in Washington DC, represent the
writing of the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution. During WWI, Faulkner trained artists
as camouflage specialists, leading to the founding of the American Camouflage Corps.
Mural location:
North facing Church St @ 42 Main St
Designed by:
Tom Siebert, Murals for Schools Huntington Beach, CA
Stunning! Even more stunning is ‘how could they do that?’ Thanks for posting this John; I am rarely in Keene, Your post enabled me to enjoy these true works of art.
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Stunning! Even more stunning is ‘how could they do that?’ Thanks for posting this John; I am rarely in Keene, Your post enabled me to enjoy these true works of art.