The art that defaces history is very, very wrong

I went to our Madison County Historical Museum to paint some pictures of the historical items located in the park. I was busy setting up my easel toward the caboose and at first didn’t realize something was different. However, upon looking at my intended subject, something was very wrong.

Walking over nearer to it I saw that someone or several someones had painted graffiti all over the side.

First, I was angry that someone would do such a thing, then my anger turned to sadness, and I asked myself why, why would anyone deface a part of our history.

Sadly, the answer was obvious. They had no respect for our history which quite incidentally is also their history. Why deface a historical piece of all of us?

If this was an isolated incident then it wouldn’t hurt so much. When I photographed and painted pictures of many of our covered bridges in Ohio, they are filled with graffiti. The art work of our past is defaced by the present generation. When I paint the pictures of these bridges I paint them without the graffiti that deface them just as I will paint the caboose at the park without the added unwanted paint. I wish whoever added their own paint to the caboose would come back and help paint over their destruction.

Please come back and at least help restore part of all of our history. This is not a demand but a request to be helpful. I will donate the painting I am working on of the caboose and train station to be auctioned to help purchase paint to restore it to its bright red self. I hope others will join me in this restoration effort in any way they can.

Harry Croghan is an artist, photographer, writer and teacher. You can send comments to croghan@dragonbbs.com or call (740) 852-4906.