By Michele Deluca
Niagara Gazette
NIAGARA FALLS —
Elizabeth Mannarino did not know she liked history.
The senior at Niagara Falls High School had immersed herself in the history of Niagara Falls for an independent study art project before she graduated and to her surprise came to really care about the stories and the people she was bringing to life on her canvas.
The idea for the mural came at the special request of her Niagara Falls High School art teacher, Robert Lynch, who asked her to paint something for the Niagara Falls Board of Education.
After a little bit of research, a 4-by-8 piece of plywood came to life through Mannarino’s paint brushes, with representations from long ago history to the celebrations of today.
The mural includes contemporary locations like Wendt’s Dairy and the former Wintergarden, but also includes the personalities from the city’s history from Annie Edson Taylor to Whitney Porter.
The entire painting is woven together by the words the young artist found in an old yearbook, “Today we follow, tomorrow we lead.”
The painting, set to land in the Board of Education offices, has found a temporary home in the lobby at City Hall through the efforts of Niagara Falls Councilwoman Kristen Grandinetti.
The historical depictions have impressed those who frequent the lobby, including City Administrator Donna Owens. “I came out of my office and saw it and said, “Wow. That is so cool.’ I love it,” Owens said.
Grandinetti said she knew the mayor would enjoy the mural and especially the representation of the old Stone Chimney. “As soon as I saw the painting I knew the mayor is going to go crazy over this,” the councilwoman said.
Mayor Paul Dyster responded pretty much as she predicted — but in his own professorial manner — and when he met the young artist recently he called the painting “fantastic.”
Known to be something of a history enthusiast himself, Dyster was especially pleased to see the chimney in the mural, as it is one of his favorite historical artifacts in the city. “It’s the second oldest man-made object east of the Mississippi,” Dyster noted as he pointed out the chimney on the mural.
The chimney, built in about 1750 and believed to be a part of Fort Little Niagara, now sits on an embankment of the Robert Moses Parkway near the corner of Buffalo Avenue and John B. Daly Boulevard.
The mural is expected to remain in the City Hall lobby for a few weeks, but so many are growing fond of its presence there may be some good natured protest when it is finally moved to the Board of Education offices on 66th Street. In the meantime, Grandinetti is working with the artist to make a post card of the mural. She also issued a proclamation at a recent city council meeting to congratulate the artist.
Mannarino is now headed to Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh where she will study to become an architect. When she graduates she would like to return to the city and specialize in the restoration of historical properties.
“We’ve had all these great things happen here,” she explained. “We should focus on the best parts of the past.
“I feel like I’m a history buff now.”
