PORT HENRY — The historic community of Port Henry will have its new public art on display Columbus Day weekend.
The “Village of Public Art,” as it’s being called by the pH7 community-improvement group, was created over the last two years, as local residents worked individually and in teams to create more than a dozen large permanent murals and signs.
As part of the second-annual Adirondack Coast and Boquet Valley Studio Tour, downtown Port Henry will become an open studio with free guided tours for the public, who can visit each work while also learning about the village's historic architecture.
“I will be giving the tours and probably members from pH7," said designer Frank Edgerton Martin. "Many people who worked on the new murals will be available. We hope to get people to think of Port Henry as a ‘Village of Public Art.’ There may even be some new projects this fall.”
Tours will start at Port Henry’s downtown information booth, located at Main and Broad streets, and run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m Friday, Oct. 5, and Saturday, Oct. 6. A map and descriptive brochure covering the range of art will be given out for free.
Attractions include large murals depicting historic street scenes, a tropical jungle, the historic headquarters of the Witherbee Sherman Co. and an unusual restored ghost-sign with historic lettering.
A new entry sign on the south end of the village celebrates Moriah native son Johnny Podres, who helped lead the Brooklyn Dodgers to a World Series victory in 1955.
Local artist Linda Smyth painted most of the murals, with sign artist Willie Grant doing the Podres sign.
Visitors can also explore a new hand-crafted stone fountain at the village traffic circle, see a collection of quilts and have lunch at the newly reopened and historically restored Foote’s Miss Port Henry Diner, believed to be one of the oldest in the country, Martin said.
Port Henry’s Iron Center Museum on Park Place, which documents the area’s nationally significant role in iron-mining history, will also be open during the tours.
Email Lohr McKinstry:
lmckinstry@pressrepublican.com
