WHY ARE HALF OF LEMON GROVE’S MURALS MISSING?

By Miriam Raftery

March 29, 2023 (Lemon Grove) – Community members have asked why the lower half of Lemon Grove’s historic murals are missing, near the intersection of Main and Pacific on the side of the former Lemon Grove Bakery building. So ECM reached out to Helen Ofield, historian to the board of the Lemon Grove Historical Society.

She replied, “We removed those bottom panels as the new lessee was required to install a sidewalk directly beneath the mural wall. We didn't want to risk concrete splattered on the artwork. Also, the lessee will repaint and bring back the original color of the building. We are prepared at any moment to reinstall the missing …The fresh painting of the building will be done by Paul Schubert's company of historic preservation fame. They repainted our museum and did "Lady Lee's Beauty Makeover," she says of the Lee House owned by the historical society.

Ofield adds that another renovation is in the works.  “ We are presently getting a copper ridge line done on the Lee House as the incessant rain has caused leaks --and moss on the north side of the roof. Never a dull with an old building!”

Below are the full murals, as they appeared before the lower panels were removed during the building’s renovations. Each panel depicts an era in the city’s history, including early Native Americans, Spanish conquistadors, Mexican rule, pioneer settlers and modern times.