Canal mural complete in Albion with an addition (if you can spot it)

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Albion eighth-grade students in Kamie Feder’s art class completed a revamp of the canal mural on the north side of the Albion fire hall.

The students and their teacher finished the job on Thursday after several days of painting in 80-degree weather.

The mural was 25 years old and was originally painted by Corinne Toenniessen for her Girl Scout Gold Award in 1998. She received some design help from local artist Terri Wood.

The paint became faded over the years and was given a fresh coat in the same design. The new project added “Welcome to Albion” above the 36-foot-long painting.

Feder and the students added a cat on the boat in appreciation for a neighborhood cat that seemed to be watching their work this week.

The students and Mrs. Feder paid tribute to Toenniessen and Wood for the original mural.

The other lower corner notes the students stepped up to give the mural a facelift in 2023.

Toenniessen, now Corinne Upcraft, is a teacher at the Mexico Academy and school district, north of Syracuse. She posted this message today on the Orleans Hub Facebook page:

“I cannot begin to express how beautiful this turned out and how much it means to me that Albion teachers and students have worked on this project.

“It feels like a lifetime ago when I completed this project, and as a teacher now myself I love that current students are still learning about the history of our town and actively participating in that history.

“As a 17-year-old kid, I didn’t even think about whether that mural would still be there 25 years later, but I’m so glad it is and that it continues to be a beautiful welcome point for people coming in to my wonderful hometown.”