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Welcome to Virden Mural

N. Springfield St. Virden, IL
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The original 2004 "Welcome to Virden" mural was damaged in a storm and replaced by the one shown above. The new mural was painted in 2018 by Bernie Gietl and D.L. Whitlock-Gietl of Carlinville. At 13 x 42 feet it's considerably smaller than the original 2004 mural. But it is painted directly on the brick, whereas the old mural was on panels attached to the brick wall.

The original "Welcome to Virden" mural was located in the same spot on the Sav-Mor Pharmacy Building which is located at Jackson & N. Springfield Streets. The mural highlighted the history of Virden founded in 1852.

At 52-by-19 feet the four panel mural was a fairly large. It was painted in 2004 by Greenville, IL muralist John Hubbell. The first panel showed life before the town was organized, it showed buffalo and a farmer working his fields along the old wagon trail. The second showed John Virden and his wife as well as their Virden Hotel by the railroad tracks. The third panel featured local aviator, balloonist and photographer Melvin Vaniman and a variety of modes of transportation. The last panel represented the modern town square.

Photo(s): 2012