WEEK OF DECEMBER 12, 2024
VOLUME 53 | ISSUE 27
$2
Idaho Springs tree lighting rings in holiday season BY CHRIS KOEBERL CKOEBERL@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Local artist Shawn Cox works to restore the original “Oh my Gawd” mural.
PHOTO BY CHRIS KOEBERL
Iconic Idaho Springs mural undergoing meticulous restoration with help from the town BY CHRIS KOEBERL CKOEBERL@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
A mural that has adorned downtown Idaho Springs for more than three decades has come down and is in the process of being restored by hand — one brush stroke at a time — inside the gym of the old Carlson Elementary. The mural titled “The ‘Oh My Gawd’ Road” hung on the outside of the “brown barn” adjacent to the former Citywide bank and future headquarters of Idaho Springs Police at 1744 Miner St. An abundance of city resources, public and private, are pitching in to assist lo-
cal artist Shawn Cox in his effort to bring the mural back to its vibrant colors and history. The mural was painted by a local artist Wendall Pugh in the early ‘90s, according to Director of the Historical Society of Idaho Springs Jan Boland. Pugh was even featured in a Colorado Community Media article about mural artists dating back to 2005 (see coloradocommunitymedia.com/2005/03/24/ olde-town-murals-celebrate-history/). “He was a creative guy and he saw an opportunity and a space,” Boland said. The wooden mural is painted as an amalgamation of the city of Idaho
Springs with people, cars, trucks and wooden structures, but the paint on the plywood is so badly disintegrated that only faded images remain barely visible. “I noticed the mural and the shape it’s in and I thought it was kind of a tragedy to see it just fade like that. I know someone put a lot of effort into it,” Cox said. Although Cox is reluctant to call himself a professional artist, he said the mural reminded him of a childhood friend’s father who painted murals in places like Times Square in New York City. Cox said what he learned from him he
Gingerbread House
SEE CHRISTMAS TREE, P4
SUPPORT LOCAL NEWS SEE PAGE 12 TO LEARN MORE
SEE MURAL, P6
VOICES: 8 | LIFE: 10 | HOLIDAY WORSHIP: 20 | PUZZLES: 22
50’s Jolly Rancher
Idaho Springs Mayor Chuck Harmon stood next to the switch that would illuminate a living evergreen tree in Citizens Park in downtown Idaho Springs that will serve as the town’s Christmas Tree this holiday season. Harmon was accompanied by Santa Claus dressed in his red and white coat and hat and long white beard at the center of the stage. The dozens of children, who beforehand were running through the park screaming and laughing as they chased each other with balloon swords, candy cane hats and staffs, gathered around the tree and magical switch to proclaim their holiday spirit Harmon said was needed to illuminate the tree. The countdown was on as the children shouted, “Three, two, one!” With that, the switch was thrown and hundreds of lights came to life with red, blue and white colors illuminating the holiday tree in the dark chilly night Nov. 30. The children screamed and laughed as the adults held family and friends close and smiled at the lights — then, the tree went dark, and a collective “ahhh” came from the children. Seemingly perplexed at the very brief lighting display, Harmon consulted with Santa Claus and the pair had a solution to the problem. “Apparently, we need More Christmas spirit,” Harmon told the children. The countdown was on again, and this
CLEARCREEKCOURANT.COM • A PUBLICATION OF COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
Empire Workshop
Happy Holidays from Clear Creek Realty
Sweet Cozy Cabin
303.567.1010 Cell: 303.825.2626 joshuaspinner@gmail.com
Call for Listing Specials
G-town Vicky
Ski Chalet
Josh Spinner - Broker, Owner Local Expert since 1999