News : Shellsburg Saves historic Gold Medal Flour Mural

The Mural in its original condition

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Shellsburg's new mural is completed adding a fresh attraction to the downtown

The Shellsburg community came together in an effort to save this historic Gold Medal Flour Mural, in downtown Shellsburg. Artist Ed Callan of Ed Callahan Signs Unlimited and his friend Jeff King of Palo began the preparation for repainting the mural on Tuesday of last week and had started repainting the Gold Medal Flour Mural in downtown Shellsburg on Thursday, May 30.

Hand-painted advertising via murals such as the Gold Medal mural, were common, but most have been lost to time. The Gold Medal Four company began in 1888 by Minnesota mill owner Cadwallader Washburn after his flour won a gold medal in an international competition.

The original painting reads, " Eventually, Washburn-Crosby Gold Medal Flour, Why not now?" The painting can be seen on the north side of the Pearl Street Social Club building, located at 110 Pearl St. in Shellsburg.

Recognizing the historic and cultural importance to the community, the Shellsburg Hometown Pride Committee identified the restoration of the iconic Gold Medal Flour Mural as a priority project as it was slowly deteriorating.

In July 2023, the Shellsburg Area Community Group (SACG) launched a fundraising campaign to preserve the community's historic mural, located on the north side of the Pearl Street Social Club building in the business district of Shellsburg.

The hand-painted sign was created around 1920 by Thomas Cusack Company of Chicago, one of the leading outdoor advertising firms in the U.S. at that time. Old hand-painted advertising murals, often called "ghost signs," were at one time common in Iowa, but most have now disappeared.

The mural is an exact replica of the original. 

SACG raised more than $12,000 to pay for the restoration, which is being completed by a local company using a GoFundMe campaign, flyers and other efforts.

The original condition of the mural can be seen in the first photo, and the progress can be seen as you scroll through the series of photos (just click the arrows on or below the photos!)