New Owner To Restore Old Dr Pepper Mural In Lufkin

(Lufkin, Texas) Oftentimes, during demolition of a building to make way for new construction, it's a 'rip it all out' approach that doesn't save anything. That's the attitude that was initially taken on a construction project in downtown Lufkin, Texas.

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Historic Find During Demolition

It was back in September when construction crews were demolishing the old Angelina County Jail that they discovered a very unique piece of history. Demolition crews uncovered a painted mural of a Dr Pepper advertisement, believed to have been created in the 1930s. The construction company and the City of Lufkin collaborated to devise a solution to preserve the nearly 100-year-old advertisement mural.

Authenticating the 1930s Mural

Upon further examination and consultation with Dr Pepper officials, it was determined that the mural was authentic, and the company was thankful it was found, but they could not assist in saving it. The city considered saving it and using it as part of a public restroom in the downtown area, but the cost associated with securing and reinforcing the wall it was painted on was too costly.

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New Buyer Plans to Restore

While it may seem like bad news, there is good news. Someone has plans to purchase the building with the vintage Dr Pepper mural for around $25,000+, and will renovate and preserve this piece of Dr Pepper and Lufkin history, according to CBS19.

What’s Next for the Mural Project

According to the City of Lufkin, the new bidder has stated they have plans to stabilize the building and make more improvements to the aging building. Once the sale is complete, the report says that construction and restoration could begin as early as March and would take about a year to complete.