Downtown Cookeville Murals (Algood, Monterey, Central: neighborhood, live, restaurant)

[JMT]

I had a bit of time early this morning while in town and took some pictures of the murals downtown.

Behind the Leslie Town Centre and next to the patio of 37 Cedar restaurant



Cedar Avenue across the street from Father Tom's Pub



Cedar Avenue on the south wall of the Biz Foundry



Broad Street facing the Spokes/Tennessee Central Trail parking lot



Broad Street facing west, about 2 blocks east of Willow Ave



Broad Street's Historic WestSide



Broad Street on the east wall of the Cookeville History Museum



Former Putnam County Republican Party headquarters on the Courthouse Square

[Sarah315]

These are awesome!! What’s the story behind these? Who painted them? Are there more in the works?

[JMT]

Originally Posted by Sarah315

These are awesome!! What’s the story behind these? Who painted them? Are there more in the works?

I'm pretty sure the mural on Broad of the first responders was painted after 9/11. I'm guessing the Ronald Reagan one was painted after his passing.

The Coca-Cola one has an interesting story. If I remember correctly, the owner of that building (Cookeville's mayor) was going to repaint the exterior, and while removing layers and layers of old paint came across the original Coca-Cola mural. He contacted Coca-Cola who paid to have the mural restored. I love Coke, so this is one of my favorite murals anywhere.

Local artist Erica Swenson painted the Cedar Ave murals. I'm guessing the WCTE one is to celebrate the 40th birthday of Cookeville's PBS TV station. The other one is supposed to represent Broad Street in 1937 Cookeville. It was funded by the merchants in that neighborhood (WestSide Business Association).

The big mural behind the Leslie Town Centre was painted by local artist Jason Tingler. The mural is located near the beginning of the Tennessee Central Trail, the bike path that connects downtown Cookeville to downtown Algood (and, hopefully, will continue up the mountain to downtown Monterey at some point). If you look closely you can see a couple of birds riding bikes.

I don't know about the stories behind the "There's only one Cookeville" and "Cookeville Proud" murals but I like them.

I hope there are more murals in the works. There are still some big, blank walls around town that could use some art!

[tragenvol]

Originally Posted by JMT

I don't know about the stories behind the "There's only one Cookeville" and "Cookeville Proud" murals but I like them.

Initially it was "I BELIEVE IN COOKEVILLE" borrowed from the folks in Nashville; so, either those folks got wind of the imitation or the Mayor smartly changed to "There's only one Cookeville" because that in fact is reality.

[Pameladeville]

These are wonderful!

[JMT]

Here's the newest downtown mural which was spray painted this week onto the side of a building on Cedar Avenue, just a block from the First Responders mural. The artist is a fellow named Brett Whitacre out of Chicago.

[JoeCartpath]

Those murals certainly add to the character of Cookeville. I'm glad to see that more are being done. I hope the one across from Father Tom's is somehow saved and worked into the upcoming development of that property.....it's my favorite!