Hoosac Tunnel Mural Unveiled at North Adams' Heritage State Park
The 24-by-8-foot tribute to the Hoosac Tunnel has been installed on the long wall of the closed tunnel museum. Artist Richard Haskins spent nearly seven months inside the building working on the six pieces that make up the mural.
"We commissioned Rich to do a mural of what we thought encompasses Heritage State Park and our history with the railroad here in North Adams," said Mayor Jennifer Macksey. "So tonight, not only are we going to kick off with my great friends from Pandemic Relief, who they are an awesome band, but we are going to unveil this beautiful mural."
The artwork was commissioned by the city and funded through an $80,000 grant obtained by community development specialist Michael Nuvallie that was also used to purchase an event trailer and sound system similar to Pittsfield's.
The band Pandemic Relief were the first to try out the trailer for a public concert on the park's north end.
Haskins is an award-winning self-taught artist whose acrylic work has been exhibited in a number of regional galleries. His piece "Days Gone By," a winter scene of downtown North Adams featuring long-gone stores like Lillie's and Newberry, was displayed on Main Street some years ago.
This mammoth work at Heritage State Park is centered around a bright blue Boston & Maine engine turning out of the 1876 tunnel; up on the hills is the Greylock War Memorial and the memorial to the 13 workers killed in the tunnel's Central Shaft disaster.
Other features include a waterfall, American flags, flowers and birds, and hot pink graffiti of "Willa" with a red heart and the date 7-29-26.
The date marks the latest addition to his family when his son and his wife had their daughter.
"She gave birth to their first child, so I was a grandpa for the first time," he said. "I did that the second they called me on the phone."
He was a little entranced to see the painting in the daylight for the first time after months working indoors. An attendee said Haskins needed to step far back to see how the blue engine "really pops" out of the background.
"That was the last thing that I did," said Haskins, explaining how he was working out the angle of the engine as it was exiting the tunnel. "I worked my way around and around that to get to that point."
Lighting and backing for the mural was installed last week; the artwork was covered by a black tarp until Monday's unveiling and concert.
"You are the first people to see this installation, which may or may not float around the park as we develop this beautiful place," the mayor said. "But our goal is to revitalize this whole park piece by piece, and we're going to start tonight. And you're all part of the history."
Tags: Heritage State Park, murals, unveiling,
