Community invited to dedication of historic mural May 15 in Highland

The community is invited to attend the dedication of the historic mural on the west wall of the Weinheimer Community Center in Highland from 2-4 p.m. Sunday, May 15.

The afternoon will begin with music from the Highland Music School.

Mayor Kevin Hemann will welcome the crowd, and a full explanation of the grant process and the meaning of the mural will follow. Hear comments from the artist, Robert Fishbone of On the Wall Productions from St. Louis. Then, stay for a close look at the mural and refreshments.

Made possible in part by a $10,000 matching grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, a mural was designed and painted on the side of the Weinheimer Community Center at the corner of Main and Pine Streets in Highland — created by Robert and Liza Fishbone of On the Wall Productions from St. Louis.

They were assisted with painting by Andy Cross (set painter for The St. Louis Muny Opera), and Lisa Roth. Deborah “Moe” Moellering painted the three cut out figures installed next to the mural. Check out Weinheimer’s likeness to the photo inside the building.

The Weinheimer Community Center is an icon in itself. In 1947, F.W. Weinheimer (whose likeness is found on the painted cutout) left $150,000 to the city of Highland to build a recreation center in memory of his parents who had operated a drug store at Laurel and Main.

The restriction was the city had to raise an additional $50,000 and provide a site for the building. Turner Hall was located on the land where the Weinheimer Community Center is now, but the organization had disbanded, and the building was donated to the city.

With a vote of 4-1, the citizens of Highland took on the challenge of raising the $50,000. The citizens succeeded, and by 1952, the Weinheimer was constructed where the Turner Hall had once been. By 1986, 200,000 people per year were using the facilities of the Weinheimer.

The painted cutouts of the three figures bring the mural together to show how the ideas of the past have swelled into the future. The young boy next to Weinheimer’s likeness is holding a reproduction of the first milk can produced by the Helvetia Milk Condensing Company, which eventually became Pet Milk Company.

Notice the three of them are wearing roller skates, one of the highlights of activities at the Weinheimer Community Center. Also notice Weinheimer’s skates are vintage to honor the past merging with the present.

Engraved bricks, thanks from HAC

Bricks engraved with the words of people who love the city will fill the landscaping below the mural. If interested in participating in putting a brick at the base of the mural, check the Highland Arts Council website, email lynnette@highlandartscouncil.org or call 618-558-0054.

The Highland Arts Council thanks the National Endowment for the Arts for its grant, the city of Highland for the use of the building and workers to set the concrete at its base, Arts & Education Council/Bayer Rural Fund Community Arts Program for its grant, Korte and Luitjohan for their generous donation of power lifts and scaffolding, Korte Co. for its production of the time-laps video of the creation, and each citizen who purchased a brick to support this endeavor. It truly is a community project.

This story was originally published May 1, 2022 at 12:06 PM.