A mural created by three local artists was mounted on the outside of the Buchanan Community Centre in June, so it would be in place for the Buchanan 110th and the Canada 150 birthday celebrations held in July.
It depicts a scene at the former railroad station from around 1910-1912, where a number of residents are waiting to depart while others are waiting to greet arrivals.
The artists involved in the mural project were Buchanan residents Marilyn Bader, Dyanne Laplante and Eleanor Hadubiak. They were aided by a mural previously done by Gladys Secondiak from a picture in a Buchanan history book.
Unfortunately, Secondiak’s mural, which was mounted for several years on the Village of Buchanan’s water treatment building, became severely weathered and was removed.
Some modifications from Secondiak’s original were made, including some research into locomotives in order to make it more authentic. Period clothing was researched from local photos and museum websites for more accurate colours and styles. Lessons were also learned in protecting the mural from the effects of weather and sunlight, and two different types of protective coating were applied.
In the event that the top coat becomes weathered, damaged, or vandalized, it can be removed without removing the other coat, said information from the artists. By using the isolation coat, the mural can be maintained more easily without disturbing the painting itself.
The Buchanan library board obtained the funding for the project to replace the original mural.
