Questions have been raised by those familiar with a Hardy landmark that has recently been removed.
According to Hardy Mayor Ernie Rose, the popular Hardy History Wall which was located between Millers Leather Shop and the Crosseyed Catfish in Hardy has been removed, but has not been destroyed.
“I looked at it three years ago and it was in pretty good shape. They’d placed boards to stabilize it so it wouldn’t fall over but now, even the stabilization has rotted and it’s just not safe,” Rose said. “When we were working on this we took it down board by board so as not to distort the painting in case they wanted to use it somewhere else. Marc [Herring] stepped up and said he’d like to have it but I didn’t feel like I’m at liberty to give it to anyone so I gave it to the A&P [Advertising and Promotions Commission].”
Rose said each board was removed and numbered to help keep it in order.
“We did take it down board by board to preserve it, but the screws wouldn’t come out because the wood was rotten. Marc painted the numbers on the back to keep them in order and it is now stored at the Civic Center,” Rose said. “I don’t know that it can be refurbished because the boards are rotten, but I told Traci Moore, the Chair of the A&P where it is stored and she was happy. I told her Marc also had interest in it.”
Rose said the removal of the wall will make way for new improvements to the city.
“Several years ago, Entergy donated $10,000 to Hardy for a pocket park for Main Street. They came back and said they didn’t care what the city used it for but knowing that, it was my thought we should continue to do what they asked,” Rose said. “The money was moved to the general fund and we’re going to use it to build this pocket park”.
Rose said he did not want to move forward with plans for the park until an engineer could be consulted.
“I didn’t want to move forward until I got an engineer because with the way things are now days it needs to be 100 percent and ADA compliant,” Rose said. “We have been able to get it started and I hope to get it completed this year.”
Rose said he’d asked the council for a portion of the funds earlier this year to begin the project which started with the placement of a wheelchair ramp.
“I asked for $6,000 of the $10,000,” Rose said. “My plan is to add a 12 foot patio expansion of the sidewalk and is designed so the handicap ramp we have can still be used… We didn’t want to take up the parking because this town needs parking areas so we will keep the parking lot and will put a retaining wall in and will add rails around the patio.”
Initially Rose said there were plans to incorporate the history wall into the backdrop of the patio, however the deterioration of the wall removed that possibility.
“I asked Marc about considering letting someone put a mural on his building and he said yes,” Rose said. “We discussed a railroad scene. The city can’t pay for a mural but the A&P and through donations it can be done.”
The pocket park, will be developed over time and as the new administration comes into office in January of 2023.
Lauren is a an award-winning journalist who decided after 10 years of newspaper experience to venture out. Hallmark Times was born.
