Hub Staff

Artist Bert De Graaf was taking measurements at the Southampton Market on Wednesday, October 21 for a large three dimensional mural. The mural will be mounted on the wall that runs along Highway 21 as part of the Saugeen Rail Trail Association's "Trains to Ships" 25th Anniversary celebration.

A scene from the 1950s, the mural will feature a steam train that will look as if it's coming out of the side of the former furniture factory where the original Canadian National Railway spur lines ran.

Built in the 1860s and 70s the Wellington Grey Bruce Railway served Southampton and Port Elgin and was later taken over by the CN Railway with rail service continuing for over a century.

The mural will also pay tribute to renowned muralist Allen Hilgendorf who passed away in 2013 and whose work can be seen throughout Grey and Bruce counties, including Saugeen Shores. Hilgendorf will be the conductor in the mural and his wife Karen will be waving a handkerchief.

The mural will be painted on sixteen square foot of panels, broken down into four 4' by 8' individual panels.

“Martin's Home Hardware in Southampton has donated the paint and Port Elgin Home Hardware has provided all the panels, which was over $12,000,” said Saugeen Rail Trail Association President Joyce Scammel.

De Graaf says he has already primed the panels and will be painting the mural over the winter in Kincardine.

Scammel said that the plan is to start attaching the panels to the wall a couple of weeks before unveiling celebrations on the May long weekend. Plans on how to keep it concealed during those weeks until its unveiling are still in progress but scaffolding will be erected and then covered while it is attached to the wall.

“Once its up we're going to put up a plaque on the wall next to it,” explained De Graaf, “so that it will tell a little bit of a story. I'll be doing the graphics for that too,” he said.

Scammel said she has been speaking to a local business who is interested in providing refreshments and that the unveiling will also tie into other things that the Association has planned for the May 24 weekend including a cleaning of the trail and a new gazebo at the Memorial Gardens at Emerald Street Trail Head in Southampton.