Pictured Left to right: Micheal Schweinsberg, Sarah Noggle, Gene Scarbrough, Katie Gorrell
The OSU extension building and Paulding County BOE located at the fairgrounds has a unique set of mural paintings inside that Gene Scarbrough would like to recommend people to visit. From left to right you’ll see the beginning of Paulding County to the modern era in a picture book history form.
From the very beginning, you can observe the Native Americans along with the pioneers who met them here.
The journey starts around 1801 and continues as we see companies, churches and houses formed.
Gene would like to make sure that everybody realizes that we should not be covering up the history and Paulding County BOE should make sure that it is passed on to all generations.
Scarbrough, 93, painted the scenes in 1981 under the request and fundraising efforts of the county. It measures 60 feet long and 14 feet high. It was the County Ag Agent, David Jones, who asked Gene if he could do this and he willingly agreed.
Gene painted friends, family right into the pictures. His Grandfather Ed sits on a tractor, Paul Copsey with the cows, Burt Davis is a blacksmith, and Woodrow Gudakunst is flying his plane. You’ll see companies such as the REA (now Paulding-Putnam Electric Cooperative), Baughman Tile Gorrell Bros Auction Truck, Kauser Trucking, and Cooper Farms’ turkeys. The Church is Mount Zion in Washington Township.
He served in the Navy in the South Pacific and also was an artist for the Navy. He says he never worked a day in his life because he enjoys what he does. Gene is an active old timer. He still runs, draws and even skips rope. Gene also is a motivational speaker and reminds everybody that “Everyday is Saturday”. One of his favorite hobbies is still drawing. He helps out at parties doing caricatures.
Stop in one of these days to the OSU Extension building and see the history of Paulding County and the fine painting work by Grover Hill resident, Gene Scarbrough.
