PORT ANGELES – With the big changes coming to downtown Port Angeles in the next couple of years in terms of construction, it’s nice to know that some things will stay the same.

Among them are the popular murals depicting local history, including Olympic Visions near the fountain, Sluicing the Hogback, The Kalakala, and the two Ennis Creek murals at the Feiro Marine Center.

Kalakala and the Ennis Creek works were painted by local artist Cory Ench. After 20 years the murals are a bit worse for wear and tear, so Ench has been hired to restore them to their original luster by the same folks who sponsored the murals in the first place back in the 90’s, the Nor’Wester Rotary Club of Port Angeles.

Ench has nearly completed repairs of the Ennis Creek panels, and a casual viewer would be hard pressed to tell that any of it has been replaced and repainted just this Spring. Ench explains.

Ench will next take on the Kalakala mural, which features the unique 1930’s ferry pulling away from Port Angeles with the Olympic mountains in the background. That mural was painted on concrete, which has since developed cracks. Ench says the plan is to fix the cracks with acrylic, and then do some cleaning and touch-up before applying a clear coat.

The biggest project of them all, at 94-feet-long and 20-feet-high, will be Sluicing the Hogback, originally designed by the late Hank Krueger and painted with assistance of the late Tim Quinn. Painted on metal plates, fading and streaking have taken their toll, and it needs to be largely repainted. That restoration is already under way.

Coordinating the whole project is retired newsman and Nor’Wester Rotarian John Brewer, who makes it clear just how important it is to them that the City’s history and culture be preserved.

Also contributing to the project are Hermann Brothers, Black Ball Ferry Line and Hartnagels Building Supply. If you’d like to donate to the effort, contact John Brewer at jcbrewer8@gmail.com, or call (360) 452-4639.

To see photos and learn more about the murals of Port Angeles, click here.

PHOTO: Artist Cory Ench appears to be joining the subjects of his mural on a beautiful day near Ennis Creek.