Don Mong (center) stands with donors and supporters of the Main Street Greenville Mural Committee during the installation of the mural on the Brightspeed building in downtown Greenville.
Ryan Berry | Daily Advocate
By Ryan Berry
DailyAdvocate.com
GREENVILLE — The fourth mural in downtown Greenville was unveiled on Friday morning. The Main Street Greenville Mural Committee has installed four murals from one end of South Broadway to the other since October of 2023.
The newest mural is located adjacent to the city building on the Brightspeed building and can easily be seen from the Traffic Circle. This mural features the work of an artist with roots in the community. One of Don Mong’s watercolor paintings of Greenville City Park was chosen to be highlighted.
The mural features a view of the city park’s stockades, walking bridge and lagoon from the perspective of a couple sitting on a bench. According to Eileen Litchfield, of the mural committee, the committee researched the stockades and park’s lagoons and learned they were built in the early 1940’s through the generosity of Greenville resident Fred Coppock. The stockades were restored in 2021 through a combined effort of the City of Greenville and Fort GreenVille Daughters of the American Revolution. Many of the park’s structures were damaged in May during the tornado, but the stockades, bridge and lagoons have come back to life due to the efforts of volunteers and city crews. Litchfield added that because of their efforts to restore the park, the mural committee provided a lunch for city staff during the installation of the mural.
Mong, who now lives in Rhode Island, has had his artwork viewed by hundreds of thousands of people even prior to the mural being installed. His artwork featuring the Beavertail Lighthouse was selected for the Rhode Island license plate.
Mong was elated to have his artwork featured in his hometown. He said, “I’m overwhelmed. There are a lot of talented people around and the mural committee asked me to do the work. I did a project for the Garst Museum and donated everything to that project. I donated everything here. I don’t take a penny for this project.” In fact, the artist helped raise funds for the committee through an art class he held the day prior and by selling prints of his painting during the installation.
The Greenville High School Class of 1975 graduate said he loves Greenville. Wherever he travels, he tells people it was like growing up in Mayberry. He said, “There was just amazing places. Your parents took you to Schumeth’s Restaurant to teach you how to eat at a big restaurant. Then you graduated to the Fairlawn. Then you’d always go over to Gershuh’s to get some cream pie. Just all the other amazing places that are no longer here. Greenville is just a special place. The park is so beautiful.” Mong said he has traveled extensively all over the world, “Hands down, the city park in Greenville is the most beautiful place.”
Mong said he has been drawing all of his life and even incorporated his talent into how he made a living. He retired after 35 years as a police officer and forensic illustrator. He would illustrate car accident scenes and crime scenes with a lot of detail. “The training I received for my illustration and drawing for the police situations is kind of like my happy place,” he said.
Even with Mong’s donation of artwork, Litchfield pointed out the mural installation would not have been possible without the assistance of many volunteers. Joe Wintrow, of Wintrow Signs, has been a huge supporter of the program and donated his time to print and install the mural. He had help from Fitzwater Lawn Care and Maintenance and city workers who donated the lift trucks and manpower for the installation.
According to Wintrow, the printing of the 29 panels took 31 hours to complete. “I always love the challenge and opportunity to maximize our capabilities, and this mural has been the biggest one yet,” said Wintrow. Additionally, the building was prepped for the installation with power washing donated by Austin Spencer of Roof Maxx. Tim Wells digitized the artwork so it could be enlarged.
Funds for this project were provided by the Ohio Arts Council, Brown Family Foundation, Darke County Endowment for the Arts, Lydia E. Schaurer Memorial Trust Fund, Darke County Foundation’s Ralph and Phyllis Brumbaugh Fund, Greenville Rotary, and Harry D. Stephens Memorial Fund. Additionally, Bach to Rock provided the sound system at the Mural Installation Watch Party. Also, the Mural Committee thanks Kirsty Cameron, a contractor with Savills who works with Brightspeed on their real estate.
Members of the Main Street Greenville Mural Committee are Ashley Austerman, Greg Billing, Dick Brown, Marilyn Delk, Brandon Ervin, Andrea Jordan, Litchfield, Stephanie Schieltz Lowder, Jennifer Overholser, Deb Shiverdecker, Matt Steyer, Sean Strawser, Wells, and Wintrow.
Additional murals can be found on the Daily Advocate/The Early Bird building at the corner of South Broadway and Washington Avenue, Sure Shot Tap House, and Beanz Buttercream Bakery and Eatery.
To contact Daily Advocate Editor Ryan Berry, email [email protected].
