Being an excellent drummer who had a flamboyant style of crossing hands and sticks over to the opposite side of the drum while marching may have gotten Franklin's Wes Law some attention as a supreme showman but in the days of segregation, it didn't get him a spot in a white band. Undeterred, an all-black band was formed and played for decades around the area.
Franklin's music history is long and diverse, and that diversity will now be celebrated for years to come thanks to a mural and descriptive plaque on the side of the Barrow-Civic Theatre.
A roughly 11 x 33 foot brightly colored mural was dedicated Saturday morning in front of a crowd of over 100 people. The project was made possible through a couple of grants from the Bridge Builder's Foundation and spearheaded by Franklin High School art teacher Rachelle Surrena. It was created mostly by Franklin High School art students, but many others contributed to the mural.
"Making a gigantic mural makes big dreams seem more achievable," she told the crowd as she began to describe the project and the work of her students and community.
Franklin's music history is long and diverse, and that diversity will now be celebrated for years to come thanks to a mural and descriptive plaque on the side of the Barrow-Civic Theatre.
A roughly 11 x 33 foot brightly colored mural was dedicated Saturday morning in front of a crowd of over 100 people. The project was made possible through a couple of grants from the Bridge Builder's Foundation and spearheaded by Franklin High School art teacher Rachelle Surrena. It was created mostly by Franklin High School art students, but many others contributed to the mural.
"Making a gigantic mural makes big dreams seem more achievable," she told the crowd as she began to describe the project and the work of her students and community.
Rachelle Surrena addresses a crowd in front of the mural depicting the Sheepskin Band with members Wes Law, Kale Law, John Lawson and Ed Lawson.
The project began months ago with meetings and field trips. Local historians Carolee Michener, Peter Greene and Steve Johnston were instrumental in helping Surrena and her students settle on a subject.
Greene, who has researched a great deal of Franklin's music history was one of the speakers Saturday. He gave a history of the band known as the Franklin "Sheepskin Band." He described how the band was invited to be a part of several local events, including the very large Armistice Day parade in 1918. "The band's history was emblematic of its time. Respected, honored and hired for all sorts of major local occasions, yet at the same time, its members were never invited to join in other groups," Greene said.
Greene, who has researched a great deal of Franklin's music history was one of the speakers Saturday. He gave a history of the band known as the Franklin "Sheepskin Band." He described how the band was invited to be a part of several local events, including the very large Armistice Day parade in 1918. "The band's history was emblematic of its time. Respected, honored and hired for all sorts of major local occasions, yet at the same time, its members were never invited to join in other groups," Greene said.
He said Saturday that after the death of leader Wes Law, their famed drummer, the band was largely forgotten. So he was excited to be able to speak Saturday about this band. "It is a great thing to see this chapter of Venango County's cultural history acknowledged and preserved here."
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Several local leaders and school officials came out to the dedication ceremony. Two students, Kayleigh Beasly and Calista Judy each spoke of their involvement and thanked the community for the experience in creating this mural as a lasting tribute to this largely forgotten part of the city's and county's history.
“We had plenty of ideas on what to do for the mural, but in the end, we decided on representing the Sheepskin Band,” Beasley said. “It was incredibly interesting to learn about the band and to work on something big that would represent them and educate the community.”
"In today’s climate, there is great importance in celebrating, and promoting visibility for our diverse history. Through music, the Sheepskin Band richened our culture and deserves significance," Judy said.
“We had plenty of ideas on what to do for the mural, but in the end, we decided on representing the Sheepskin Band,” Beasley said. “It was incredibly interesting to learn about the band and to work on something big that would represent them and educate the community.”
"In today’s climate, there is great importance in celebrating, and promoting visibility for our diverse history. Through music, the Sheepskin Band richened our culture and deserves significance," Judy said.
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