By Joel van der Veen
DAVIDSON — The familiar murals on Davidson’s Giant Coffee Pot will live on.
Members of a new coffee pot restoration committee met for the first time recently, discussing plans to revitalize the 24-foot-high monument and protect it from further deterioration.
Coun. Arlene Low reported on their progress to her fellow town councillors during their regular meeting on Tuesday.
The group has decided to go ahead with repainting the murals, which have faded after decades of year-round exposure.
The fate of the murals had previously been in question, as other options had been proposed for the outside of the coffee pot.
For instance, a proposal to repaint the structure with a speckled paint finish — giving it the look of an antique enamelware coffee pot — had attracted some support.
However, Low said, residents ultimately seemed to prefer the idea of trying to maintain the murals.
“So far it seems to have a very positive momentum,” said Low.
Gail Prpick, Karen Reich and Dee Ulmer have agreed to lead a team of community volunteers in repainting the mural, which they hope to do in June of next year.
Before that happens, the coffee pot will be sandblasted to combat the rust that has appeared in several places.
The finished paint job will be followed by the professional application of a clear coating, to extend the paint’s lifespan and protect the artwork.
Coun. Jessica Foster, who also serves on the committee, said they are researching what materials and approaches will work best for the project. The committee is planning a follow-up meeting this week.
The coffee pot, a project of the Midlakes Community Coalition, has stood at the north entrance to Davidson since the summer of 1996.
In the years since, the site around it has been developed as a rest area with a shelter, washrooms and historical displays. It also connects to the community walking trail.
The monument has been featured in books, countless photos, and a stamp issued by Canada Post.
Its future and possible restoration have been a recurring topic for town council, Communities in Bloom and others over the last several years.
Recognizing that the structure was continuing to deteriorate, the town issued a call in late August for volunteers to serve on a committee.
A fund established several years ago for the coffee pot’s restoration currently holds about $8,800, according to town staff.
The restoration as planned is expected to cost somewhere between $5,000 and $8,000.
Kelly Thorson, a Holdfast-based artist who painted the murals directly onto the structure’s surface in the summer of 1996, will not be involved this time around.
Speaking to the Leader in August, she said she wished the town well, whatever decision they made.
“Good luck to them,” she said. “I hope they manage to find a solution that they’re happy with.”
The original paintings that were used to create the murals have been preserved.