CORRECTION TO ARTICLE, NOTED BELOW
The mural above has drawn praise since it was painted on a wall in downtown Fulton recently.
Local artist and teacher at Volney Elementary School Ben Jerred painted the mural, which shows a young couple looking up the Oswego River. One of Fulton’s former signature businesses, the Hunter Arms Company, is the large factory shown in the upper left corner.
Jerred’s father and grandfather worked there.
Jerred was hired to paint the mural by the Greater Oswego-Fulton Chamber of Commerce. Among the partners on the project were the Friends of History in Fulton, Fulton Savings Bank, Rowlee Construction and Howard Rose of Howard Rose Art Sign.
Jerred, Alma Smith of the Friends of History and Fulton Savings CEO Mike Pollock received a proclamation in honor of the project this week from the Fulton Common Council.
Mayor Ron Woodward offered a one word assessment of the mural: “Beautiful.” He said it had gotten many nice comments.
“Ben did a beautiful job,” said Pollock. “It was beyond our expectations.”
Woodward noted that the railing in the painting looks so real that he’s touched it to make sure it was just paint.
Aldermen issued proclamations honoring the mural, and the city Tree Committee’s efforts to preserve and grow trees, and the Community Development Agency’s home weatherization program.
[CORRECTION: In the original version of this article, I got wrong the lead group on the project. Beth Hilton of the Greater Oswego-Fulton Chamber of Commerce sent us this correction: “The article falsely states that the artist was hired by the Friends of History in Fulton. The Friends of History were represented on a committee of the Greater Oswego-Fulton Chamber of Commerce but the artist was hired by the Chamber at the recommendation of the Chamber Mural Committee. The Greater Oswego-Fulton Chamber of Commerce coordinated the entire project by working with Ben Jerred, Fulton Savings Bank, Howard Rose and Rowlee Construction. The Chamber has been working diligently to enhance the business and community interests of both the Fulton and Oswego communities in an effort to build regional collaboration. This mural project is just one of the many Chamber initiatives recently undertaken to offer Chamber benefits to Fulton businesses since the merger of the Chambers of both communities. In addition to the Fulton Mural Project, The Greater Oswego-Fulton Chamber of Commerce has also recently opened a branch office at 149 South First Street in Fulton as well as created the Greater Fulton Business Committee and the Fulton Project Bloom Committee under its umbrella of ad-hoc committees. The Chamber would greatly appreciate correction of the article.” Consider it done, my apologies for the error, and thanks to the Chamber for the information, and for the beautiful mural.]
[DISCLOSURE: Ben Jerred and Jan Rebeor are former employees of Oswego County Today. Jan was one of our two original employees when we opened 10 years ago. Ben was the first person hired after that.]
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Always thought Ben was talented when he worked for us so many moons ago
This proves it ..
If you ever want your old job back, Ben, just let us know !^)
As usual, Steve’s right. Ben, whenever you get tired of nights, weekends and summers off, a guaranteed paycheck and excellent benefits, come on home 😉