Rock Rapids — The biggest and arguably the most-well-liked mural in a town that calls itself “The City of Murals” has been destroyed in a weather-related incident.
The mural, featuring soldiers leaving for and returning from war on a train near a depot in Rock Rapids was painted in 2012. Sandy Wynia, president of the Rock Rapids Mural Society Board says it featured the railroad because that was the most common mode of transportation in those days. She tells us what happened.
Wynia says unfortunately, due to whatever factor — the weather or the impending sale — nothing was done. And what the board feared, happened.
According to Wynia, the cost of the mural was over $18,000. Other mural society officials tell us that the murals are not able to be insured, so since this mural was commissioned by the Mural Society, it will go down as an $18,000 loss.
Coincidentally, the building had been sold earlier that day.
She says they hope to be able to put up a similar mural in the future, possibly on the same location, which was on the former JC Penney building, which now houses Rosie’s Sit-A-Minute coffee and gift shop, on the northeast quadrant of the downtown stoplight corner.
