A significant discovery was made in the basement of the old Walton Branch, where long forgotten large, historic mural pieces were found. Pat Yanarella, a former BCPL employee, was surprised to learn of their discovery having believed they were lost in a fire while in storage. The pieces were relocated to the Florence Branch for evaluation. Upon closer inspection, the murals showed signs of wear and damage, including crayon marks left by children, discoloration from age, and crumbling glue that caused parts of the frames to fall apart.
Our Archive and History Center successfully identified the artist behind the murals as Caroline Williams. She created these sketches in the 1960s and possibly into the 1970s, with pen and ink as her primary medium. According to Ginny Kohl, former Library Board Vice Chairman, she and Ted Bushelman, former Library Board President, visited Williams at her home in the 1970s to discuss the creation of large-scale works for the library. Williams selected specific images from her collection that best represented key Boone County landmarks, including the Boone County Courthouse, Florence Town Hall, Petersburg Christian Church, Verona Post Office, and the Anderson Ferry, Boone No. 7. The Verona Post Office was featured in the Cincinnati Enquirer on February 3, 1963. These large-scale prints were purchased and installed at the Florence Branch, the first Boone County Public Library location, in 1976.
William’s murals in the Florence Branch Meeting Rooms | Click on images to enlarge.
To address the damage and plan for restoration of the recently discovered murals, the library consulted with The Art Company in Cincinnati, who conducted a detailed assessment of the images. Experts noted that the artwork was likely printed and mounted onto drywall boards, evidenced by the consistent 8-foot height of the pieces and the split where the boards were joined. Due to the substantial weight and size of the murals, The Art Company recommended against reframing the original pieces. Instead, they proposed photographing and reprinting them on stretched canvas to preserve the images and prevent further deterioration.
Transporting the large scale murals to be photographed | Click on images to enlarge.
Professional photographer Claudia Hershner was hired for this important task. She arranged for the murals to be photographed at Garage on York in Newport, capturing the intricate details of the aging artwork. Through her meticulous editing, Hershner restored the images to their former glory.
Photographing the murals | Click on images to enlarge.
In celebration of BCPL’s 50th Anniversary in 2024, these beautifully restored reproductions are now proudly displayed in the Florence Branch, ensuring that this important piece of Boone County history remains accessible to the community for generations to come.
The mural prints on display at the Florence Branch | Click on images to enlarge.
Why were these prints removed from the Florence branch, and stored in the Walton branch, which would have been the newest branch at the time?
During renovations at the Florence Branch in the late 1980s early 1990s, the prints were removed and initially stored at a site that later suffered a fire. At the time, it was believed the prints had been lost in the fire. However, while preparing the old Walton Branch for the property sale, the prints were unexpectedly discovered in the basement. It remains unclear how or when they were moved from the original storage site to the Walton Branch. As soon as they were found, we recognized their significance and ensured they were returned to the Florence Branch.
Is there perhaps a bio of the artist displayed with the sketches? I’d like to know more about Caroline Williams.
Hello,
The sketches will be installed by May 30, accompanied by a short bio displayed alongside the murals. However, most of the available information has already been shared in the blog.