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Historic murals in Davenport now number two with the recent completion of a 32-foot painting on the community’s two-story Masonic Building, located at Broadway and Main Street.
“This mural depicts early Davenport, the beginnings of Davenport,” said Don E. Sporleder, chairman of Davenport’s mural committee.
The painting, on the outside south wall of the building, depicts a handful of images related to Davenport’s and the state’s past. The largest image is a scene from the Land Run in September of 1891 — an image that was originally created by artist W.A. Rogers. Sporleder said Rogers made a drawing of what he saw during the land run, and his image was published on the cover of “Harper’s Weekly” magazine on Oct. 3, 1891.
The community’s first mural adorns the outside north wall of Sporleder’s newspaper office building, the Davenport Monthly New Era. It also depicts several scenes of early Davenport life.
Other images on the new mural, which was completed Saturday, include a depiction of Nettie Davenport, the community’s first post master. Also seen are a depiction of a mail delivery stage coach and the first postmark issued through the community’s post office.
The murals are painted using photographs from Sporleder’s own collection of historical moments and figures. Davenport’s murals were painted by Palmer Studios Inc., which is owned by Dr. Bob Palmer, an art professor at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond.
Sporleder said Palmer has painted more than 1,000 murals in communities across the state. Davenport’s new mural is the tallest Palmer has done, while his tallest outdoor painting is in Oklahoma City.
“We’re touting this as being the tallest mural on Route 66,” said Sporleder. “We’re really proud of it.”
The new mural cost $5,000, which was funded through the chamber’s mural fund. The cost of the community’s first mural was about $2,800, Sporleder said.
Contributions to the fund are accepted at any time through the chamber.
Sporleder said the chamber plans to continue the project with future murals — possibly one per year.
“We’ve developed a theme called ‘Post Card Views of the Past’,” said Sporleder, a former chamber of commerce president.
Palmer was joined by four of his former art students to paint the Davenport’s new mural, and the crew began the project on Thursday, July 24. The work was completed at about noon Saturday.
Palmer and his crew made transparencies of the images Sporleder provided, and projected the images on the side of the building. Using 30-foot scaffolds, the crew went by the projection and photographs held in hand to paint the images.
“They are really talented,” Sporleder said. “A lot of people gathered and watched them paint.”
Using spot lights, the crew would take advantage of cooler temperatures and work as late as 1 a.m. each day, Sporleder said.
“It’s been quite a conversation piece for the town,” Sporleder said of the new mural. “It’s something.”
A site has already been chosen for Davenport’s next mural, which will possibly depict a scene from Main Street in 1910. The image includes wagons and people gathered in the street.
“That’s what we’re hoping to do next,” Sporleder said.
Sporleder said the murals will hopefully attract visitors to Davenport as part of their tour of Route 66.
“We’re really excited because we’re getting so many comments,” Sporleder said of the murals. “People like to get off 66 to make a little jaunt down Main Street.
“It’s been a fun thing; a real fun thing. I think we’re all looking forward to the next one.”
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Jason Smith may be reached at 214-3932 or william.smith@news-star.com.
DAVENPORT, Okla —
