Coca-Cola - Allerton
The Coca-Cola mural is a restoration of several previous murals painted on this site. The building was historically a drugstore and is now the Old Time Soda Fountain.
Location: south side of the Old Time Soda Fountain, 100 N Central Ave, Allerton, IA 50008
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Coca-Cola
This mural celebrates Allerton’s historic soda fountain and pharmacy. The building was originally built in the late 1800s, and the soda fountain dates from the 1950s. By the 1980s, it was owned by Milford and Evelyn Lewis and was operated as Lewis Sundries. Milford continued to maintain the soda fountain through the 1990s, selling coffee, sodas, and ice cream to customers sitting on the iconic red barstools.
After the soda fountain closed for the last time, a local community organization led by Ross and Lorena Blount and Richard and Fran Henderson purchased the building to save it from falling into disrepair. They raised funds to purchase and restore the soda fountain and other original contents.
The soda fountain is once again fully functioning, serving handmade malts, shakes, root beer floats, hot fudge sundaes, and other treats. Richard Henderson and other local donors have also curated a wonderful collection of memorabilia representing the history of pharmacies in Wayne County.
The soda fountain is operated by volunteers every Saturday evening during the summer. It is also available for private parties. You can learn more about it on Facebook.
Note: if you visit when the soda fountain is open, bring cash - they do not accept credit cards.
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about the art
This mural was painted during the Walldog Mural Festival in Wayne County, Iowa, from August 30 - September 3, 2023.
The lead designer for this mural was Ray Guzman of Hoboken, NJ. Ray has been painting for over 30 years, and his inspirations span both urban and rural landscapes, often breathing nostalgic life into his subjects. You can find more about him at https://rayguzmanstudio.com/, or follow him on Facebook or Instagram.
Ray was an original 1993 Walldog, and he came back to Allerton to repaint the Coca-Cola mural. Like the previous mural, it depicts the famous Coca-Cola logo alongside a dedication to the people of Allerton and the Letterheads.
FAQs
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The Walldogs are an international group of muralists and sign-painters who volunteer their time to create community art. They have painted throughout the US and around the world.
The Walldog movement started in Allerton, Iowa, in 1993. Local artist Nancy Bennett invited dozens of signpainters to Allerton to paint murals in Allerton’s downtown, and the local community opened their homes to host these artists. Since that first gathering, the Walldog movement has grown tremendously.
The Walldogs celebrated their 30th anniversary in 2023 by returning to Wayne County, Iowa. They have meets planned for the next several years to continue this community art tradition. You can learn more at thewalldogs.org.
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In 2023, the Walldogs painted 16 murals. They also painted new signage at the Wayne County Fairgrounds.
These murals included 12 new designs, as well as 4 restorations of the original 1993 Walldog murals in Allerton.
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We recommend starting at Prairie Trails Museum in Corydon, Iowa. The “Come, Come Ye Saints” mural recognizes the passage of the Mormon Trail through Wayne County.
From there, you can drive in an approximate circle to Promise City, Seymour, Allerton, Clio, Lineville, Humeston, and Millerton, before returning to Corydon to see the rest of the murals there.
Alternatively, you can start at any mural that works for your route.
The entire route takes approximately 2 hours to drive.
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Check our main FAQ page for more details and contact info.
Next stop
Cross Central Avenue to the east, walk south half a block, and see the POW-MIA mural.
The POW-MIA mural commemorates America’s prisoners of war and missing soldiers. It is a restoration of an original 1993 mural at the same site.
You can find the POW-MIA mural on the north side of the Healing Escape building: 105 S Central Ave, Allerton, IA 50008.
For the full list of murals and locations, visit this page or download the map.