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In Lawrence courtyard: Mural, renovations celebrate 30 years of preservation

By Yadira Betances
Staff Writer
Published: June 12, 2008

LAWRENCE — The first three generations of his family worked to make Haffner's service stations a success in the Merrimack Valley.

Today, Andrew Royce Fournier, son of Robert and Thea, is carving his own niche in a different field — art.

His newly painted mural at the Lawrence History Center testifies to it. He put the finishing touches on Monday and signed it, just in time for the 30th anniversary celebration today in the center's courtyard.

Using regular exterior house paint, Fournier, 36, painted the black-and-white mural of President Benjamin Harrison's visit to Lawrence in 1889. The 5 foot 6 inch tall president known as "Little Ben" served until 1893.

The mural is set on two pieces of plywood 8 feet by 9 inches. It features a steam engine billowing smoke and pulling into the Lawrence station under the sign, "Welcome to Lawrence."

Standing on the platform are several people, some dressed in their finest and one wearing a ragged outfit with a pack on his back.

Inside the railroad station, there is a person playing the guitar, and others waiting in anticipation of Harrison's arrival. The mural also includes an inset of Essex Street with familiar landmarks, including City Hall and the Bay State building.

"The mural evokes an image that makes you want to jump in there," Fournier said. "You can see the train moving, you can hear the whistle blowing and sense the excitement of the crowd."

That is exactly what Barbara Brown, executive director of the Lawrence History Center, was looking for.

"We wanted to dress up the shed wall, celebrate Lawrence and Essex Street," Brown said.

Fournier's mural will enhance repairs done to the courtyard in preparation for the center's 30th anniversary. Renovations include repairing the original Essex Street gate by members of YouthBuild, who used the Essex Company's plans from 1883 and lumber found in the sheds.

The metal hinges for the gates are copies of the original designs, as are the handrail the Essex Company had on the building's front steps, all done by Dennis George of Hall-Rea Co. of Lawrence.

Scott Collier repaired the brick pillars supporting the gates. He matched the color and material of the mortar used in the 1800s and used bricks found in the Essex Company's warehouse.

Brown said incorporating history into the renovations was important.

Curator Kathy Flynn, along with Tom Walsh and Christine Lewis, researched the many uses of the courtyard, and created seven panels which will be on permanent display in the courtyard.

The gala will be the first public viewing of the mural and the renovations. One interesting item came from John and Lou Chistolini of Syracuse, N.Y. — a pushcart used by their uncle, Antonio Russo, whose family moved to Lawrence from Sicily. He used the cart to sell vegetables in the North End of Boston and at Haymarket Square.

"Lawrence was his first taste of life in America and we thought it was only fitting to donate to them," John Chistolini said in a telephone interview from Syracuse.

It also will be on display along with the peddler's license plate, the scales that hung on the cart to weigh the produce and his photograph.

Today's event includes the presentation of the Dengler Award to 10 leaders in the Lawrence community, along with food, artwork, and music.

The award is named after Eartha Dengler, whose vision to preserve the city's history inspired her to establish Immigrant City Archives 30 years ago, now known as the Lawrence History Center.

The center is at the former headquarters of the Essex Company, and the courtyard where the event will be held was used exclusively by the Essex Company executives and their employees.

Fournier, who is working as a volunteer through the Jericho Road Project, came up with the idea for the mural. He created a similar one at the Haffner's service station on Andover Street.

He worked on the Lawrence History Center's mural for about 80 hours at his studio, The Gallery 302 in Amesbury.

"I'm doing this in memory of my grandparents and my family," he said. "I like murals because they are the easiest way to put art right in front of the public's eyes."

Growing up in Lawrence, Fournier took art classes at Pennissi Art Studio in Lawrence and graduated Rhode Island School of Design with a degree in illustration.

Over the years, he has done commissioned work for companies and individuals, including paintings of the comic strip character Archie hung at the Woolworth building in Haverhill and murals for area restaurants.

Fournier is not the only one in the family with artistic talent, which he got from his mother's side of the family, the Hoskings.

His maternal grandfather, John, owned Hosking Stationery on Essex Street. His maternal grandmother, Christina Hosking, taught piano for many years and his mother, Thea Fournier, is a pianist.

His sister, Martha Alexandra Fournier recently graduated Moore College of Art in Philadelphia. Her artistic forte is painting, printmaking and drawing.

If you go:

What: Lawrence History Center's 30th anniversary celebration featuring an exhibit of past and present city leaders, live music, food, and artwork.

When: Today, 5:30 p.m.

Where: At the courtyard of the Lawrence History Center, 6 Essex St.

Cost: $50 each

What: Summer social to visit with Immigrant City Archives founder

Eartha Dengler

When: Tuesday from 2 to 4 p.m.

Where: Lawrence History Center, 6 Essex St., Lawrence.

Cost: Free

List of the Eartha Dengler Award winners:

Jessica Andors, deputy director, Lawrence CommunityWorks

Laurie Bottiger, head of school, Esperanza Academy

Ralph Carrero, director, Lawrence Family Development Charter School

Sabrina Dorsainvil, Movement City/Groundwork Lawrence Green Team

Terri Kelley, artistic director, Friends of the Lawrence Public Library

Misael Martinez, Movement City

Michael Miller, Lawrence Municipal Airport

Gary Sidell, principal, Bell Tower Development LLC

Manuela Su, manager of bilingual education, Community Training Group

Larry Yameen, Realtor, LJ Yameen Real Estate

Photos