Good neighbors not only want to make their neighborhoods warm and friendly, they also strive to help their communities shine.
For Maresa Fisher and Susan Grinlinton, who live in the Fiddlers Ridge neighborhood in Weston, adding to their town’s unique history and charm is their aim right now as they paint a large mural on the side of the New Deal Warehouse.
When Fisher’s friend, Michelle Humes, was working for Louis Smither, the owner of New Deal Warehouse, Fisher would come in to visit. When she noticed some inappropriate graffiti on the side of the warehouse, she offered to paint over it.
Smither was excited because he had seen a few murals in other towns and hoped to see one in Weston. But Smither had grander ideas in mind for the mural. He put together a list of some of the area’s historical icons that he thought should be included in the mural, including Lewis and Clark, Ben Holladay, a steamboat, a stagecoach, the Holladay Distillery, tobacco/hemp fields, and tobacco wagons. Smither is a former history teacher, coach and author who loves history.
Fisher agreed to paint the mural if her friend, Grinlinton could paint with her. They reviewed the list and came up with some sketches for Smither to look at.
They turned the chosen sketch into a 1-inch to 1-foot scale drawing and added a little bit of an extension at the end. Originally laid out it was 100 feet wide by 18 feet tall. They have added about 20-30 more feet in length with the river extension. The mural is on the west side of the New Deal Warehouse.
Fisher and Grinlinton began the project in April, with power washing, applying vinegar to the surface, and priming the initial areas. They typically work Monday-Friday from 7 a.m. until noon, skipping rainy days, and hope to be finished by the winter season, weather dependent. “If we can’t, we will just start again in our spare time this spring,” Fisher said. “We go at our own pace and have fun. We are always coming up with ideas to add as we paint,” Grinlinton said.
They are committed to completing the mural as soon as possible. The summer heat impacts the paint and painting surfaces, so they try to beat the heat by starting their painting early. “We stop around noon because the sun comes over the warehouse by then and things heat up,” Fisher and Grinlinton said.
Other challenges have included insects, bolts, the waves in the galvanized steel panels, and the brick, and juggling painting with their personal and family obligations.
The mural has drawn attention since the painting first began.
“Over a month ago a Weston couple were sitting in the parking lot on a Sunday morning looking at the mural,” Smither said. “I stopped to visit with them, disclosing the mural’s local artists. The husband was back on Monday morning and gave each artist a token of their appreciation. The couple have always been good participants in doing good things for Weston.”
Grinlinton, a native of Weston, graduated from Weston Platte High School in 1972. She attended three semesters at Northwest Missouri State University majoring in art, then left for a job offer at Hallmark Cards in Leavenworth, Kan.
“The plant gave me the opportunity to do murals on windows and showcases for 19 of the 38 years,” Grinlinton said. “Additionally, Hallmark had me paint retirement pictures for retirees. After I retired from Hallmark, I have been working two afternoons a week at the Weston Historical Museum for 15 years. I have been interested in art ever since I can remember. I have done a few side painting jobs and some just for my family and me. Also, I helped paint “the jailbreak” scene on Thomas Street in Weston. I enjoy working on painting projects, it keeps me busy.”
She has three grown children and four grandchildren, all living in Weston.
Fisher grew up in Plattsburg, and graduated from Plattsburg High School in 1998. She has never taken “official” art classes outside of elementary and high school.
“My mom was always making something for our football team when we were growing up and we kids helped her,” Fisher said. “Art class and my art teachers were constantly my favorites in school.” She attended Missouri Western State College majoring in French. In 2003, she joined the US Army as a Signal Intelligence Analyst and served for two Iraq combat tours. When she and her husband Sean moved to Weston in 2014 to be closer to family, they welcomed their new daughter.
“Once our daughter started school full time, I began a couple of IT certification courses and painting on a volunteer basis for our church, Holy Trinity Catholic Church, for the candlelight tour,” Fisher said. “I also painted the orange and black butterfly wings in the Platte City Nutrition Store. Recently, I have started on my Master’s in Information Systems while working on this mural.”
The mural will include: the Lewis and Clark 1804 expedition, Missouri Territory 1821, Perry Mill 1849, a steamboat, the Holladay distillery founded by David and Ben Holladay in 1856, the founding/historic figures of Weston: Ben Holladay, Bella Hughes, Theodore Warner, and David Holladay; Ben Holladay’s business adventures (the first postmaster of Weston) - the first post office of Weston, 613 Short St., an iconic red and yellow Holladay Stagecoach (Ben started the Holladay Stagecoach and several businesses in Weston to include a tavern/saloon) and the International Hotel, 601 Main St. established in 1858, which burned down and is now the site of the Weston Historical Museum.
“Maresa tells me she is uneasy doing people and animals,” Smither said. “Susan likes doing people and animals though. The two of them make a good team. The small figures of Susan’s, (Ben Holladay, David Holladay, Theodore Warner and Bella Hughes) were earlier individuals influential in the development of Weston and are as lifelike as they can possibly be. The items and people depicted in the mural are a reflection of the early building of a riverboat town and those that touched and aided its development. Each has a story within itself.”
“To the right of the Weston sign divider, are the building fronts of businesses that stayed as a foundation for Weston after the fires and flood, that moved the river away from Weston’s port,” Fisher said. “The chosen businesses are a tribute to the long-standing family-owned businesses that stayed in Weston during its population decline. These businesses were passed down in their family for generations. The first building front is the Rumpel’s building, 509 Main St., established in 1887. The Rumpel family had a hardware and general store at this location until it closed in 1988. The second building front is the Sebus’ building, 405 Main St., established in 1894. The Sebus family had several types of businesses and operate a hardware store at this location today called Sebus Brothers Hardware. The third building front is The Weston Chronicle newspaper, 367 Main St. The Bless family operated the newspaper from 1886 to 1984 (98 years). We have plans for a fourth business, most likely the Hull Mill, 722 Washington St., established in the 1890s. From there the painting is going into hemp and tobacco fields. In front of the businesses, we plan on putting in some tobacco wagons and different figures from the period throughout the mural, we are still fine-tuning all the details to be included. We could not find a portrait of founders Joseph Moore and Thomas Weston.”
Grinlinton’s favorite part of working on the mural has been being able to create art from historical events, and Fisher likes creating a dimensional painting. “I love to make things seem as though you can walk right into a scene and seeing the people in the community enjoy the painting,” Fisher said.
They both look forward to the day it is finished and local residents can enjoy it on a daily basis. Grinlinton feels the most rewarding part of co-painting the mural is the accomplishment of it all and being able to share the history of Weston.
“I love seeing pictures of residents with it on Facebook,” Fisher said. “I love that they are enjoying it and I hope they will be proud of it for years to come. That is what is very rewarding for me, the enjoyment and pride it brings to people and the community.”
They have thought about continuing their artistic creations in the future and joke about teaming up and painting all the murals they can for the town of Weston.
“I would like to say thank you to Louis for taking a chance on us and letting us paint all over the warehouse,” Grinlinton said. “Also, I’ve really enjoyed working with Maresa. She is an amazing person to work with, calm, precise, and kind, which makes it fun. And thank you to all the people who make us feel like we are doing something worthwhile!”
“I truly have enjoyed working and talking every day with Susan,” Fisher said. “She is a wonderful artist, so hardworking and diligent in her work. Thank you to Louis too! He provided all the paint and any additional items we needed to complete the project. And the Sebus Brothers for personally delivering us paint at the warehouse. I love doing projects for the community and bringing art to the area for everyone to enjoy.”
Both Fisher and Grinlinton consider it a privilege to paint the mural for their community.
“We love the interaction with the community when they stop by to see us or just show interest in it,” Fisher said. “Hopefully, we can make them proud.”