Toppenish, Washington Murals #3:

I wanted to share the rest of the mural photos that I took in Toppenish, Washington several weeks ago.  This is third of three the three mural posts.  I took the pictures, and then went to the Toppenish Chamber of Commerce  website for the descriptions.  Some of the pictures that I took are yet not in their website gallery, and therefore I don't know much about them.  Often, these murals are painted all in one day, with several artists working at once.

When you are done looking at these, you might like to check out the first two posts: Toppenish, Washington Murals #1
and Toppenish, Washington Murals #2: "Old Timer's Plaza".

"Patterns of Life":

"The unique and beautiful designs on baskets made by the Yakama peoples represent the oldest continuous art form in the Valley, one that is still practiced today. The mural by Janet Essley is painted on the Toppenish Pawn and Trade building at Division near Toppenish Ave."  Source: Toppenish Chamber of Commerce

"Alex McCoy":

"Born near The Dalles, Oregon, in 1835, Alex McCoy was a descendant of the Wishram and Wasco tribes. He was a policeman under four different Indian agents, and served one term as an Indian judge. The mural was painted by Beryl Thomas and Jack Fordyce in 1996, and is on the Logan Building on Division Street."  Source: Toppenish Chamber of Commerce

"Cattle Drive":

"The first cattle in the Yakima Valley were brought in by Chief Kamiakin in 1840. Many more cattle drives came through the Valley in later years. This mural depicts the life and times of the cattle drover on such a drive. Painted by Don Gray, assisted by Jared Gray, on the Washington Beef building at Highway 97 and Fort Road."  Source: Toppenish Chamber of Commerce

"From Horse to Horseless Carriage":

"Painted as 1999's mural in a day and designed by Ken Carter, this mural shows one of Toppenish's early day gas stations, at one time known as the Windmill Service Station."  Source: Toppenish Chamber of Commerce

"The Mystery House":

"Called the Mystery House because even today some details about its origin and use are not known, the house was built south of town near where Highway 97 now runs. It still is standing, in a weathered condition, on the old Goldendale Highway about six miles south of Toppenish. The mural was painted by Robert Walton and is located on the NAPA Auto Parts building on West First Street."  Source: Toppenish Chamber of Commerce

"The American Legion, Post 50":

"When a Permit Wasn't Required":

"In this painting, because of the impending storm, the cattle are restless. The cattle dogs, which are dashing about, barking, and nipping at the cattle's hooves, are not helping the situation. The spooked cattle run down the middle of main street. The artist is Gary Kerby, now of Montana. The mural is located on West First Street."  Source: Toppenish Chamber of Commerce

"Rodeo":

"Rodeo recalls the early Toppenish round-ups when cowboys and ranchers would get together for a little friendly competition. Artist Newman Myrah of Portland, Oregon, illustrates the rodeo theme with his version of a timeworn poster with brick showing through. It is painted on the west wall of Ferguson's Saddlery at South Alder and West First. A photo of Myrah working on the mural has received widespread notoriety in local, regional, and national publications. He?s pictured on a ladder in his straw hat, painting the mural. Myrah came back later and surprised the town by painting himself into the mural on a ladder doing his work. People now do a double take...Is it the artist?...Or is it a painting of the artist?"  Source: Toppenish Chamber of Commerce



"Pioneer Business Woman":

"Clara Kraff was one of Toppenish's pioneer business woman, first doing business with a small store at an area hop field and later with her husband in downtown Toppenish, selling clothing and shoes. Don Crook was the artist."  Source: Toppenish Chamber of Commerce



"The Signing of the Treaty of 1855":

 

"Governor Stevens of the Washington Territory sat down with several northwestern Indian chiefs to sign the far-reaching Treaty of 1855. In this mural in downtown Toppenish near the post office, the Indians were represented by Chief Kamiakin of the Yakamas. It was painted in May of 1992 by Roger Cooke of Sandy, Oregon."  Source: Toppenish Chamber of Commerce

"Presumed Innocent":

"The judge watches as the prosecutor presents the evidence. A small glass of water is held above an old milk can. Charged with diluting milk, the farmer sits with hat on knee, his lawyer standing behind him. The mural, also painted by Ross and Sovak, is on the east wall of the city jail building."  Source: Toppenish Chamber of Commerce

"Special Delivery":

"In 1907, mail was first delivered to the rural areas of Toppenish. This was the early start of Rural Free Delivery. The postman has to furnish his own horse and buggy. Routes were about 23 miles long. These two murals were 1997 murals-in-a-day, designed by Jack Fordyce. One is a winter scene, the other is a summer scene. If the postman was a bachelor, he occasionally found himself the recipient of home-baked goodies, delivered by the farmer's daughter. These murals is on the Los Murales Restaurant building downtown."  Source: Toppenish Chamber of Commerce

"Yakama Indian Nation Leaders and Others":

"This mural is located high upon the 88 Cents Store building at Toppenish and Washington Avenues, on the south wall, depicting Yakama Indian Nation leaders of the early days."  Source: Toppenish Chamber of Commerce

 

 "The Blanket Traders":

"Using a catalog from the turn of the century, artist Robert Morgan of Clancy, Montana, made certain that the blankets being traded in this mural show the authentic patterns of the time. The mural is above Kraff's clothing store on South Toppenish Ave., downtown, and was painted in May of 1992."  Source: Toppenish Chamber of Commerce

"The Old Lillie Mansion":

"In 1893, Nevada and Josephine Lillie built a 10-room, two-story home with two inside bathrooms, steam heat, and a generator for electrical power. She is remembered as the "Mother of Toppenish," having platted much of the town. The mural was painted by Ju-hong "Joe" Chen of Portland, Oregon, on the H&H Furniture building."  Source: Toppenish Chamber of Commerce

"Halloween Pranks":

"This is the second half of the 1996 Mural-in-a-Day, on the public restrooms in downtown Toppenish, also with a theme relating to outhouses. In the early days when outside plumbing was common, pranksters were on the prowl Halloween night and anybody using the facilities that night did so at their own peril. Jack Fordyce of Yakima is the creator."  Source: Toppenish Chamber of Commerce

"Estelle Reel Meyer":

"Long Route - Short Day":

"Misc. Others":

"Still Unpainted":

Time Lapse Video Showing the Painting of a Mural in One Day:

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