A couple renovating a 115-year-old building discovered two hidden murals inside the walls, each measuring 18 meters long.
Nick and Lisa Timm purchased the building in Okanogan, located about four hours east of Seattle, in late 2021. Recently, they began renovations with the goal of transforming the historic structure into a large bar.
The renovation of the old building unexpectedly revealed a century-old mural.
The couple’s plan is to convert the 278-square-meter space into a bar and community gathering place, drawing on Nick’s experience running bars and restaurants in Olympia.
The surprise occurred as they began tearing down the first walls and uncovered a hidden 18-meter-long mural. The mural has survived through time, and although the building has changed hands multiple times, no one had discovered it before.
The oil paintings along the north and south walls of the building depict a serene landscape with a lake and lush greenery.
Nick stated: “We spent about 20 minutes tearing down the walls. Then, I discovered these amazing paintings behind this solid plaster layer.”
Two giant murals are located on opposite walls.
As the plaster peeled away, the massive mural measuring 18 meters long and 6 meters high was revealed. A member of the construction team suggested that there might be another mural on the opposite wall.
True to their suspicion, after removing the opposing wall, they found the second giant mural. The team spent about four hours uncovering the entire artwork.
The historic building was constructed around 1907 and once housed a complex that included a movie theater, a swimming pool, and even a cockfighting arena.
The Okanogan County Historical Research Agency noted that there was an article from 1915 discussing the original plans for the murals.
A local artist was commissioned at that time to paint the murals for the Central Theater.
Nick carefully removed the entire mural for restoration and refurbishment. Some parts of the mural were significantly damaged, and they are working to restore it as quickly as possible.
The couple hopes to open the bar by the end of March, but they may need to postpone for a few months, as it could take until mid-summer to complete the mural restoration.
The mural will be the centerpiece of the bar, and other spaces will be filled with historical items. Nick’s family has many heirlooms passed down through generations, which he plans to display, along with contributions from friends and local residents.
