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| The Murals are part of a historic district |
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Depicting the heritage trails of the Big Spring, a mural is mounted on the side of the McCaslin building on West Market Street.
The mural is a project of the Princeton Art Guild. The Guild’s mural committee members — Chairman Rick Lewis, Mary Grace Pettit, Judy Boaz, Ardell Jarratt, Pearl Smith, Bill Granstaff, James Asher, Bebbie Lewis, Diane Knox, Gale Cherry and Ann Kimmel — selected the Big Spring: Heritage Trails as the topic for the mural.
The Big Spring mural was the first of five on the site.
Artists James Asher and Bill Granstaff conceived the basic drawing and Asher produced a sketch. Richie McKinney was chosen as the mural artist.
The first mural is painted on seven 4x10 ft. sheets of aluminum. McKinney said that the mural is “made to last. It’s permanent. It is painted with latex and will be sealed on aluminum.”
McKinney said that he worked from the committee’s research and Asher’s drawing.
“I see the spring in a spiritual way as the provider of nourishment, refreshment and rest. Everything depends on water for its survival.
“It illustrates our need to center on God for all of our needs,” he said.
“I see God’s role in these things. I guess that’s the preacher in me.
“The spring is essential to the settlement of the of Princeton.
“The painting represents everything in motion toward the spring house with the Guild house motionless — as if guarding over, resting from the wandering,” he said.
“This is something that speaks of our heritage — our ability to adjust to times, changing conditions, to adapt and succeed.”
Indian heritage plays a key role in this first mural. “I have a lot of sympathy for the Cherokee people — for the loss of their homeland, how they were deceived and being forced to move into the unknown.”
The mural he said is designed to “open our eyes—make us aware of our history and culture. Gives an identity, sense of belonging to our area…Times change — the source remains.”
Figures in the mural are buffalo, African American, Native Americans, white settlers and the historic Guild House.
These represent the early trails and settlement of Princeton around the Big Spring.
Caldwell County Historian Sam Steger related the history of the Big Spring: Heritage Trails: “The importance of the Big Spring as a prehistoric and early settlement communications center is most evident when one considers that all trails leading northward from the Cumberland between what was later Nashville and Palmyra converged at the Big Springs. From the Big Springs these trails branched off and led to five principal crossings of the Ohio River that were located between the mouth of the Cumberland and the mouth of the Tradewater River. These trails were first forged by the buffalo, later used by the Indians and pioneers.
“Buffalo Path–Saline Trace— The buffalo most often traveled single file, creating a path about two to three feet in width. The buffalo paths which converged upon one central point in the county—the Big Spring at the head of Eddy Creek, later became known as the Saline Trace.
“The trace led to four ancient Ohio River crossing with three of them leading to the salt works in Illinois.
“Eddy Trace—The Palmyra, Tennessee to Princeton trail was important to the early settlement of the frontier. It was an important avenue of travel, particularly when the Cumberland was too low for navigation.
“Varmint Trace—This trail originated at the Big Spring and moved in a northwestern direction. The left branch led to what was later known as the Kuttawa Mineral Springs and from that point it led to an ancient crossing of the Cumberland River at Iuka. The right branch moved to what is now New Eddyville and on to the iuka crossing. Iuka is an old Indian word.
“Trail of Tears—The forced migration of the Cherokee Indians 1838 came through Princeton. They camped by the Big Spring on their march to Oklahoma. The trek began in the Great Smokey Mountains and led westward into Indian Territory costing the Cherokees nearly one-third of their population.
“Westward Migration Route—When the town of Princeton was formed in 1817 all of the territory west of the Tennessee River was Tribal lands of the Chickasaw. In 1818 when the Federal Government made the Jackson Purchase the newly formed town of Princeton was a site of land sales, a staging area for settlement and a supply point for its settlers until merchants were established beyond the Tennessee River. The Champion-Shepherdson House now Guild House, built on lot number one in the town of Princeton was a merchants store and home. Standing above the Big Spring it is the oldest building in Princeton. The store is believed to have served as a supply center for the Trail of Tears migration.”
The four smaller murals, added in 2002, took more than 1,000 hours to complete.
McKinney first researched the project, then collected old photographs and made a rough draft drawing, termed a “master.” The drawing allowed changes to be made before the actual work started.
Each panel was painted with four coats of primer before a charcoal drawing was penciled onto the panels.
Next, paint was applied, layer by layer; colors, details and highlights were added.
Finally, to prevent discoloration and to protect from the weather, two coats of sealant were applied.
There are four other murals on the building. Each is smaller than the original mural — each was painted on two panels and went through the same process.
Mural No. 2 is “Education Past and Present” and was inspired by Mary Grace Pettit, long-time librarian and chairman of the Caldwell County Hospital board. The artist included all the schools in the area to illustrate the diversity in education, the emergence of technology and a multi-cultural educational system.
Mural No. 3 is “War in the Black Patch.” The idea for the mural came from Judge Bill Cunningham’s book “On Bended Knee.” The mural pictures James B. Duke, monopolist, and Dr. David Amoss, leader of the Night Riders. Included in the mural are three masked Night Riders, dark-fired and burley tobacco, along with the Amoss House Museum.
Mural No. 4 is “Railroad Days,” which includes a portrait of “Peg Leg,” a local railroad hobo whose life was chronicled in papers such as The Courier-Journal and, as it was known in that era, The Paducah Sun-Democrat. At one time, Princeton was a major railroad hub with passenger and freight service to most major cities, including Louisville and Chicago. The railroad contributed to the economic stability of the community by furnishing employment opportunities.
Mural No. 5 is “Caldwell County Agriculture” and depicts the rich agricultural heritage of the community. The mural features the University of Kentucky Research and Education Center, which has played a significant part in the development of agriculture in Kentucky.
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