HYANNIS – Construction on a new burger restaurant on Main Street in Hyannis came to a halt this week after several murals from a famous Cape Cod artist were unveiled at the location.
The art, painted by Vernon H. Coleman, was uncovered during the construction of KKatie’s Burger Bar, which is scheduled to open by Memorial Day.
Coleman’s mural paintings depict scenes from Barnstable in the 1930’s and were drawn on the building’s original horsehair plaster wall.
That could prove difficult to save the murals as the wall cracks easily and crumbles.
Gloria Coleman, who was married to the artist’s son, walked through the location and had a chance to see the paintings recently.
She said she wishes there was a way to save the paintings.
“I just wish they could, I really do,” said Coleman. “It’s amazing that seven layers of wall had been put over those. They still look as good as they do.”
The cost to preserve the paintings could cost a considerable amount, more so then the town could afford, according to Town Manager Tom Lynch.
“It would be wonderful if a group out there can come up funding or can go in there and talk to the new owners about preserving them or encasing them in some way,” said Lynch. “It will be a considerable expense just to restore them.”
Construction crews stopped their work on the location last week after finding the murals, but said that owners of KKatie’s Burger Bar were going to make a decision on the paintings soon.
Coleman said her father-in-law’s paintings at the location are similar to what she has seen before.
“It reminds me a lot of some of the paintings that I have or I have seen, that he did in the past and typically old Cape Cod,” said Coleman.
Still, she said it was worth seeing his work up close again.
“It was a thrill for me to just go and see them,” said Coleman. “I’m so happy to have seen them.”
By JUSTIN SAUNDERS, CapeCod.com Newscenter
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