Removal and Conservation of Mural
Tax deductible
SAVE THE MURAL!
The Sears store in Watchung will close at the end of September, 2017. This store has been visited by millions of local residents over the past 70 years and will be completely demolished. Many share one common memory of the Sears store, and that is shopping with their parents and gazing at the amazing mural that overlooks the large staircase in the center of the store. The Sears store opened in 1965 so it was painted about that time. The mural is stunning and shows the Dutch Captain Michaleson, Chief One Feather and Princess Wetumpka, the key players in the Legend. The detail in the painting is remarkably preserved. The artist was Garfield Hunter Jones (1925-1994) and known for his oil murals. It is a very large 16’ X 10’ oil painting on a thin canvas glued to the wall.
For most of the year, the Historical Committee has been researching the feasibility of removing our beloved mural of the Legend of Watchung and how to preserve and relocate it. During our many visits to the mural with a variety of art experts, we learned that removing the painting will be a daunting and expensive task. We thought we had a time-table of at least a year or two, but now with demolition in the next month, we are really scrambling to try and save the mural. Not only is the mural a beautiful piece of art, it is an important part of the history of Watchung and is “so Watchung”! A feasibility study by Materials Conservation, a company very experienced in preservation, estimates the cost for removal, restoration, and preservation to be about $40,000. Your donation is tax deductible. We are exploring every avenue to save the mural – please help!
Donations can also be made by check to the Watchung Community Foundation, 15 Mountain Boulevard Watchung NJ 07069.
The Sears store in Watchung will close at the end of September, 2017. This store has been visited by millions of local residents over the past 70 years and will be completely demolished. Many share one common memory of the Sears store, and that is shopping with their parents and gazing at the amazing mural that overlooks the large staircase in the center of the store. The Sears store opened in 1965 so it was painted about that time. The mural is stunning and shows the Dutch Captain Michaleson, Chief One Feather and Princess Wetumpka, the key players in the Legend. The detail in the painting is remarkably preserved. The artist was Garfield Hunter Jones (1925-1994) and known for his oil murals. It is a very large 16’ X 10’ oil painting on a thin canvas glued to the wall.
For most of the year, the Historical Committee has been researching the feasibility of removing our beloved mural of the Legend of Watchung and how to preserve and relocate it. During our many visits to the mural with a variety of art experts, we learned that removing the painting will be a daunting and expensive task. We thought we had a time-table of at least a year or two, but now with demolition in the next month, we are really scrambling to try and save the mural. Not only is the mural a beautiful piece of art, it is an important part of the history of Watchung and is “so Watchung”! A feasibility study by Materials Conservation, a company very experienced in preservation, estimates the cost for removal, restoration, and preservation to be about $40,000. Your donation is tax deductible. We are exploring every avenue to save the mural – please help!
Donations can also be made by check to the Watchung Community Foundation, 15 Mountain Boulevard Watchung NJ 07069.
Organizer
Watchung Borough
Organizer
Watchung, NJ
Watchung Community Foundation Inc
Registered nonprofit
Donations are typically 100% tax deductible in the US.
