Milbank Mills Mural — 707 Webster Street
This mural depicts Chillicothe’s oldest existing business as it looked in 1910. Milbank Mills was founded in 1867 by George Milbank and is currently managed by a 4th generation Milbank. In 1904, during a visit to the St. Louis World’s Fair, John T. Milbank purchased a new type of steam engine and had it shipped to Chillicothe, where it powered the mill for the next 30 years.
Original painting by Kelly Poling in 2009. Maintenance and refresh by Main Street Chillicothe and artist Jacob Duncan in 2022.
This mural is located in approximately the same place where the original storefront was situated. The Palace of Fashion mural showcases an early 1900s women’s apparel and hat store. Originally painted by artist Kelly Poling in September of 2005. Maintenance and paint refresh by Main Street Chillicothe and artist Scott Rule in September of 2023.
Original painting by Kelly Poling. Maintenance and refresh by Main Street Chillicothe and artist Scott Rule in September of 2023.
The Library mural brings the Livingston County Library outside. Many famous books in the mural can be checked out from inside the Library. A mural that people can look at for hours and each time find something different. This was one of the larger murals, standing 32 feet by 84 feet. Lillian DesMarias left her estate to the Livingston County Library,. She was retired Livingston County librarian. This mural held a special spot in Kelly’s heart, as a lot of hours were spent in the library doing research. There is a spot on the globe which represents Grundy Center, Iowa, where Miss DesMarias was raised.
Original painting by Kelly Poling in 2015
709 Washington
Perhaps Chillicothe’s most sought-after mural, this lively scene of historic Locust Street is adorned with the logo of Chillicothe’s claim to fame as the Home of Sliced Bread. The first mechanized bread-slicing machine, invented by Otto Rohwedder, was used on July 7, 1928, at the Chillicothe Baking Company owned & operated by Frank Bench. This life-altering invention proved to be a great success with a 2000% increase in bread sales within the first week of its debut.
Original painting by Kelly Poling.
The Leeper Hotel was a prominent cornerstone in downtown Chillicothe, gracing the downtown landscape for more than a century. Built in 1884 by Andrew Leeper and Sidney McWilliams, the Lepper Hotel was Chillicothe’s grandest hotel. A fourth story was added in 1929, complete with a new brick facade. This mural celebrates this important history with two renderings of the building 80 years apart and recognizes other lost treasures in downtown Chillicothe.
Original painting by Jacob Duncan.
This mural showcases pieces of Chillicothe’s history including some multi-generational businesses still in existence. What was once a blank wall now paints a portrait of many life stories and serves as a community conversation piece.
Original painting by Kelly Poling.
Chillicothe was a point of convergence for three railroads serving northern Missouri. The railroad company logos represent the lines that served Chillicothe since 1857. This mural depicts a steam engine from the first railroad chugging into Chillicothe, pre-Civil War era.
Original painting by Kelly Poling 2003.
The scenes depicted in this mural, circa 1886 to the 1920’s, show the fire department’s equipment and operations over the early decades of existence. The team of horses, Joe and Dan, set the world’s record in 1898 for their speed in responding to a fire.
Original painting by Kelly Poling.
“Kids Throughout the Decades” is the theme. Local Girl Scouts selected the mural that served as their Gold Award Project. The scrapbook-style mural features pictures that show how kids lived and played during the 1800s-1930s.
Original painting by Kelly Poling.
Livingston County’s rich connection with the outdoors is illustrated in this unique two-sided mural. The bridge portrayed in the back-ground was a major key in the success of the Pony Express. Mail was transported to St. Joseph on the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad that crossed that very bridge.
Painted by Kelly Poling.
Chillicothe has always had a strong support for the arts from the community and organizations. Honoring this tradition, and paying tribute to local muralist Kelly Poling, Cultural Corner Art Guild commissioned Poling’s 60th mural, insisting he portray himself inside the mural. This was the last mural Kelly painted before he passed in 2018. This area is now known as the Kelly Poling Arts District.
Original painting by Kelly Poling.
This recreation of a “ghost sign” hearkens back to previous occupants of the building circa 1920s. The Building has had many uses including a barber shop, lawyer’s office, furniture store, undertaker’s parlor, millinery, and brothel.
Original painting by Kelly Poling.
This mural portrays an early 20th century harvest season, complete with the “Jenkins Hay Rake” which was designed, built, and sold in Chillicothe. The mural is accented with a steam,-powered tractor, threshing machine, log cabin, barn, and covered wagon. This mural was a community effort with help from Scott Rule and John Irvin.
Painted by Kelly Poling, Scott Rule, and John Irvin.
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