Kennedy Park murals give a look back to Smackover’s beginnings
For 50 years, Max Taylor has been working to beautify the City of Smackover, and his latest project – the restoration of several murals on either side of Kennedy Park – takes those who see it back 100 years in Smackover’s history.
Taylor, 89, began the mural project some time around August 2022, and the work was completed last Thursday, he said.
“Maybe it will last 50 years this time,” he said.
As president of Smackover State Bank, Taylor, who at that time also chaired the City of Smackover’s parks committee, had the idea to convert a lot that had formerly housed Dr. Charles Kennedy’s office into a park. Work began in 1968 and the park officially opened in 1973.
Fifteen years after that, in 1988, Taylor commissioned the help of Robert Wylie, then-director of the Smackover High School art department, as well as students Tim Evert, Jesse Munoz and David Tyson, to paint murals on the walls that enclose the park.
“I’d seen some old photos of the east and west sides of Broadway Street in Smackover in 1922,” he said in October. “So I came up with the idea that we
“I’d seen some old photos of the east and west sides of Broadway Street in Smackover in 1922. So I came up with the idea that we could recreate the east and west Broadway Street buildings, each side, on those mural walls.”
could recreate the east and west Broadway Street buildings, each side, on those mural walls.”
Last year, Taylor noticed that the murals’ paint was chipping and the paint had faded significantly. That’s when he decided it was time for a refresh.
Taylor solicited donations from people in the community and hired painter Denise
Williams to recreate the murals.
“It’s the biggest (painting) I’ve ever done,” Williams said. “I felt honored (he asked me), because my Papaw Williams came to Smackover back in the 20s the work for the railroad, my daddy worked for the railroad, so it was pretty interesting. I like history, went to school for history.”
The murals depict the City of Smackover in 1922, directly before the oil boom, and 1923, directly after, by which time a railroad and train depot had been established in the city and were bringing traincar after traincar full of soon-to-be oil workers to the area. The new mural followed the same sketch the ’88 paintings did, Taylor said.
“The buildings and the printing and the drawings of the people in front of the buildings are all matched exactly from the original sketch,” he said. “We did brighten it up a lot. We used whatever colors we thought would brighten it up.”
Taylor estimated that restoration of the murals took about 1,000 manhours. He raised about $10,000 for the project, he said, thanks to generous corporate sponsors and individuals alike.
“I just felt an obligation to do that and not let it deteriorate further,” he said.
Now that she’s completed her biggest project to date, Williams said she will miss going to Kennedy Park for work every day.
“It was interesting to see it come to life,” she said. “I’m kind of upset now that it’s over.”
Smackover Mayor Donald Brock said that while the murals look great, he’s even more impressed by Taylor taking it on himself to beautify the community.
“I have always been a fan of civilians doing things in the community… A lot of people want things done, but don’t want to do it,” he said. “Max Taylor spearheaded that… It’s been a great difference. We’re real proud of it.”
Taylor also had the gazebo and stage area in the park repainting, using leftover paint called “something blue” from a home improvement project both there, and to add a blue sky background to the murals.
Brock said other property owners in the area are noticing the refreshed murals.
“We’ve got some other people in Smackover that own businesses that are asking questions, looking to maybe repaint the outside of their buildings and do something similar,” he said. “It has certainly improved the looks of Kennedy Park. I’m looking forward to other improvements as well.”
Williams said Taylor’s dedication to the city was inspiring. “Max Taylor has done a good job making our community beautiful. It keeps him going,” she said.
Taylor said he’s heard from several who donated toward the project.
“Everybody that gave me money, they appreciated me taking an interest in getting it done,” he said. “They’ve been real enthusiastic about it.”
The restored murals are located in Kennedy Park in downtown Smackover.