Walldog Murals

Artist: Manfred Didier, Germany.

Howard Harlan constructed his magnificent opera house in 1872 on an ideal location that was one block from the National Road, three blocks from the Archer House Hotel, one and a half blocks from a proposed railroad station, and across the street from the county courthouse. The building was designed as a spacious opera house on the second floor with the convenience of a "drive-in" livery stable on the first floor.

In 1904 it was purchased by B. F. Johnson. The building was then called Johnson Hall.Prior to 1920 the lower floor was modified to be used for retail space and in the 1920's was the Hercules Paint Store. The upper floor near the street was used for storage and the manufacturing of hog houses. A large beam and pulley at the top of the middle second floor door on the front of the building was used for raising building materials, and for lowering the finished hog houses that had been constructed on the upper level. The building was later used for the manufacture of Sane Crystals which was a form of laxative. After some brief periods of vacancy the lower floor became an International Harvester dealer selling farm equipment supplies. In 1954, the building was purchased by the Loyal Order of Moose and became Lodge #1708. The Loyal Order of the Moose sold the building to the City of Marshall, April 18, 2001and in 2008 it was dedicated as the National Road Welcome Center. Today it is home to the National Road Welcome Center, Senior Diners' Club, and serves as a beautiful banquet hall for a variety of events, large and small.

Mural Location: Dollar General (613 Locust St)
Hidden Item: Star

Sponsor:

• Ken & Kay Smith