Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
A new mural tells the story of Ontonagon near a downtown park.
By JAN TUCKER
Ontonagon - The history of the Ontonagon area is depicted in a new 10-by-40-foot mural commissioned by the Ontonagon County Historical Society. It is on the wall of the museum facing the Ontonagon County Regional Inclusive Consumer Coalition Park and located between the museum and Aspirus fitness center.
The colorful mural was done by Sue Martinsen of Ashland, Wisconsin, who has done numerous murals on buildings in Ashland.
In Ontonagon, Martinsen's mural depicts much of the region's sites and history, including the waterfront, mining and lumber industries, lighthouse, Ewen's world record load of logs and Native American history.
Dean Juntunen, president of the Ontonagon County Historical Society, said Dave Bishop, of the Ontonagon Theater of the Performing Arts, was the foreman on the job. Juntunen thanked the theater group for the use of their equipment in erecting the mural.
Juntunen added the project has been in the works for over two years. He said the mural is further enhanced facing the park with benches and picnic tables, enabling visitors and residents to dine and hold community events there. The park is located in the center of the business district.
Financing for the mural came from the Copper Country Community Arts Commission. A Michigan Council for the Arts and Cultural Affairs grant was obtained in 2017 and a MEDC Public Spaces- Community Places fund which matched community donations to a Patronicity fundraiser, raised the final $9,235 to complete the final costs.
