09/16/2026
Come out during this month's on 9/17/26 for the ribbon cutting ceremony for the city's new wall mural at the corner of Mulberry and Market Street. Join the for the ceremony at 6:00pm!
Huge thanks to Jenni Phillips who spearheaded this great project and to Eric Leiber who donated his building for the actual wall mural. Jenni provided the following information for the event:
What was once a long-standing dream is now a reality: downtown Brookville has officially welcomed a mural! Spurred by the momentum of the Market Street Connection, Third Thursdays, and new local businesses joining the downtown area and having DORA, this vibrant addition warmly welcomes residents and visitors alike.
A Rich Local History
Working alongside the city and receiving historic research from Todd Clemmons of the Brookville Historical Society revealed a deep history at the corner of Market and Mulberry Streets:
• Late 1800s: The original two-story wooden structure housed the Sanford & Marshall drugstore and pharmacy (established ca. 1878) on the main floor, with The Brookville Star operating on the upper level.
• 1903 Fire: On December 12, 1903, a coal stove fire destroyed the wooden building and wiped out The Brookville Star’s 1901–1903 archives. The newspaper temporarily published out of Arcanum for a year.
• 1904 Rebuilding: Rebuilt in brick in 1904, the structure has served as a cornerstone commercial building for over 120 years. Past occupants include the Brookville Post Office, harness shops, a record store, an appliance store, a flower shop, and today's Studio 201.
• Rediscovered Heritage: Pressure-washing the exterior before painting unexpectedly unveiled a 1960s "ghost sign" from the former record store. It was a treasure to see and try and figure out the words. A picture is included in the slide show.
Community Sponsors and Partners
This project was a true community labor of love, made possible through generous contributions of time, labor, materials, and funding:
• Building Preparation & Restoration: Building owner Eric Leiber provided the canvas and conducted essential prep work and so much more. Mason Coston of M & K Construction donated extensive labor to repair the brick mortar over the long, hot summer and many, many hours were given. Shawn Holderman Sr. pressure-washed the building exterior.
• Supplies & Equipment: Menard’s of Tipp City generously donated mortar caulk and mural paint, while Brookville Rental and Sales provided necessary lifts throughout the project as well as the City of Brookville provided logistical support.
• Volunteer Support: Wall prep was completed by Art Bevington, Mason Combs, Melissa Grissom, Jeff Kinder, Megan, Turner, and Siler Lovett, Erin Moler, Tim Moler, Gregg Pettit, and Quinn Woehl. BSA Girls Troop 5047 also volunteered to help paint and prepared the state of Ohio part of the mural.
• Financial Backers: Full funding for the muralist was generously provided by Brookville VFW Post #3288, AmVets Post #1789, and the Delta Theta Tau Sorority. Additional funding for misc. expenses were donated by Dan Meeks, Eric Leiber, and Mason Coston.
• Design & Ex*****on: Local artist Atalie Gagnet designed and painted the final piece. Not only did she work on the design, but was very flexible as we made changes as it went up as well as worked with our local BSA Girls Troop 547 to paint the Ohio portion of the mural.
Community Pride
The community submitted many different hashtags that best represented our town. Two official hashtags to accompany the artwork were chosen: (submitted by Brad Warvel and Lori Combs) and (submitted by Taylor Ryan). We hope this new landmark serves as a vibrant backdrop for photo opportunities and continues to foster local civic pride and most importantly welcomes all to our hometown.
To see a video of the progress of the project, you can go to: https://canva.link/lkou7ye8jah8w71
