The Village of Brockport’s southern gateway is now defined by a historic mural featuring the Erie Canal.
The mural, by local artist Stacey Kirby, is located on the south side of the railroad bridge which spans Route 19/Main Street in the village. It was unveiled during a special ceremony Thursday, May 11, which also served as the kick-off for the 2017 Low Bridge High Water event in Brockport.
Ray Duncan, who acted as emcee for the unveiling, called the mural a “fabulous project.” It features a pastoral summer scene with a team of mules pulling a boat along the Erie Canal. Also featured are three historic houses in the Village of Brockport: the Morgan-Manning House; the College at Brockport Alumni House; and the Mary Jane Holmes house. Holmes was a prolific and popular author in the 19th century who lived in Brockport.
Duncan, the former chair of Walk! Bike! Brockport!, explained that the Village’s Master Plan for pedestrian and bicycle traffic calls for the use of a gateway. “Gateways are becoming increasingly popular throughout the United States,” Duncan said. “They strengthen a sense of place,” and help create, “a positive arrival experience.”
Brockport Mayor Margaret Blackman and Duncan said the mural was funded by a New York State Council on the Arts Decentralization Grant and private donations, including a GoFundMe account created by Walk! Bike! Brockport!
Three historic homes in Brockport – the Alumni House, the Morgan-Manning House and the Mary Jane Holmes house are featured in the mural. Kirby included many details in the mural for passers-bye to locate. K. Gabalski photo
Mayor Blackman said 14,000 cars pass under the railroad bridge each day. “It’s a beautiful deterrent to the trucks,” she joked, regarding trucks which sometimes hit the bottom of the bridge. She added that she hopes to eventually place another mural on the north side of the bridge.
Liz Lenz, current co-chair of Walk! Bike! Brockport!, said college students worked April 29 to paint the walls under the bridge in preparation for the installation of the mural.
Artist Stacey Kirby attended the event. “It’s the first time I’ve experienced an actual unveiling,” she said. The clearance sign for truck traffic must remain on the bridge, and Kirby said that added an extra challenge to the project. “It took a lot of geometry,” she explained.
Kirby told those attending the unveiling that she hopes pedestrians will stop and enjoy the mural. It includes a number of small details: a black cat; six adults; three children; a dog; a horse; three chickens; a number of seagulls; and two bluebirds. “I hope people will pause and reflect,” when they see the mural, Kirby said.
The event also included Brockport resident and poet/author Bill Heyen reading one of his poems which featured the theme “images that become symbols.” Heyen noted the symbolism of the canal towpath. “We are all still on the towpath,” he observed.
Brockport musician Bill Hullfish helped provide music for the celebration. He led those in attendance in a song – “Oh! That Low Bridge.”
