The fifth and final installment of arguably the most ambitious mural project in the Northern San Joaquin Valley is now underway.
The Manteca Mural Society is uninviting the public to view the second draft and make comments and suggestions to help define what the World War I mural will look like.
The meeting takes place Thursday, Nov. 30, from 10 a.m. until noon at the American Legion Hall, 220 E. Yosemite Ave.
The public provided input on March 23 as what they’d like to see in the mural that is a collaboration of muralists Dave Gordon and Ella Yates.
The mural will be dedicated May 19 as part of the City of Manteca’s Centennial Celebration.
Four other veterans’ murals are already in place on the Manteca Bedquarters wall at Yosemite avenue and Main Street. They are the World War II mural, the Korean War mural, the Vietnam War mural, and the Global War on Terror mural.
The project, when completed will have cost the society $125,000. The World War I mural is being underwritten with a $25,000 grant from the city to support public art and to mark Manteca’s 100th anniversary as incorporation of the city.
The mural and the location have significance for the city.
The city was incorporated in May of 1918 — six months before the end of World War I.
It was a war in which the first Manteca casualty of war occurred with the loss of Hope McFall.
McFall’s son — John — was born three months after he died. He had been born New York to stay with relatives for her pregnancy when her husband was shipped off to war. Three days before Manteca incorporated, McFall and his mother moved back to Manteca.
McFall went on to become the highest ranking elected leader ever to come from Manteca — serving as majority whip as a Congressman from 1973 to 1978. He served as mayor of Manteca after returning from World War II and served in the California Assembly from 1951 to 1956 before being elected to Congress in 1956 and serving there until 1978.
The corner of Yosemite and Main has been geographic center of Manteca since before its incorporation.
The Bedquarters building is the oldest complete building in Manteca built 103 years ago as the International Order of odd Fellows (IOOF) Hall.
To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com
