May 21, 2021 - The EnviroKids Murals are one of the lastest updates to the newly renovated downtown Center square with the murals restored and returned this month to their original location.
At the beginning of the 1993-94 school year, the late Mrs. Frances Oates, who was the Center Chamber of Commerce Chairman at the time, asked Fannie Watson’s gifted and talented pull-out students to join her in the Shelby Beautiful Clean project that was being implemented in the county. Twelve sixth grade students left their regular classroom one day each week and went to Mrs. Watson’s classroom for a whole day so this allowed them to help make a decision what they would work on. The 1991-92 and the 1992-93 classes had participated in year-long Community Problem Solving projects and were quite successful. This group was so pleased that Mrs. Oates felt that they could help with the county’s new project. They brainstormed for names and chose to name themselves the EnviroKids. They decided that there were many environmental issues that they could be involved in. They first worked toward improving the attitudes of the citizens of the area, encouraging everyone to take more pride in their surroundings. They pledged to be good role models themselves, and they worked diligently for many months of the school year.
Mural representing all of Shelby County
On a cold December day, they met on the town square to discuss beautifying a vacant lot that was located then between Bailey’s Law Office and Windham Home Furnishings Annex. They received permission from the owner of the lot to give it a facelift and this project became a courageous dare for them. They cleaned up the debris and worked with Dr. Creech, SFA University professor, to landscape the area. He helped them to establish beds, spread mulch and they planted shrubs, trees and bedding plants. They gave people of the community the opportunity to purchase concrete tables and benches in honor or memory of someone. Dr. Creech suggested to the students that they ask each town in Shelby County to design and paint a “kid mural” on large plywood sheets to depict their area. The EnviroKids were so pleased that Shelbyville, Joaquin, Timpson, Tenaha and their own mural of Center were successful in creating beautiful scenes. Then Mrs. Debbie Leggett from Joaquin created art work that represented all of Shelby County.
Mural representing Timpson
The students decided to call the lot “Putting Down Roots Courtyard.” One of the students, Christian Jackson, designed a drawing for a billboard and Farmers State Bank paid for having it done, promising to leave it up for at least a year. It remained there for about 25 years. The sign said, "Farmers State Bank and the EnviroKids Putting Down Roots Courtyard."
On May 19, 1994, the EniroKids sponsored a dedication for their Courtyard. The landscape work looked lovely, concrete tables and benches were perfectly arranged, and the murals from each town were in place on the wall. Each EnviroKid participated in telling the story of the lot through a poetic presentation before a large crowd. In the ceremony they dedicated the tables and benches, recognizing those who were memorialized or honored.
Mural representing Tenaha
But, time has a way of making changes. The Lot was not showing its earlier beauty, and it came in need of much care. However, the murals still faithfully clung to the wall where they had been placed on May 19, 1994. The building and the lot were sold to Badders Law Office. Mrs. Watson, the EnviroKids teacher, was surprised with a call from Badders Office asking her if she would see that the murals were repainted, restoring them to their original beauty. She agreed to doing this, wondering if Badders knew that they were asking an 86-year-old to carry out this work. Miracles do happen and all the murals have been refurbished by teachers, students or someone in each community. They are due much praise for their work. About the time that all of the six murals were finished, it was the end of the Summer of 2019. Before there could be a dedication, the Square was being beautifully enhanced and COVID came into our lives.
Mural representing Center
Thankfully, Mark Tidwell, Roger Sowell, Paul Ragan and Ron Barker placed the murals back on the “Farmers State Bank and EnviroKids Putting Down Roots Courtyard” wall on Tuesday, May 18, 2021, approximately 27 years after they were originally placed there.
Soon, a date will be established and everyone will be invited to join in on a Rededication of the EnviroKids Murals which represent Shelby County and towns within. The rest of the story will be told then and hopefully all will be able to be present.
To learn more about the EnviroKids, visit the Shelby County Museum Monday-Friday, 1pm to 4pm to view the display currently in place. It has hundreds of photos and projects to browse and enjoy.
Related article: Museum Hosting New Display Open House on May 11th
Mural representing Joaquin
Mural representing Shelbyville
