The Oswego Town Historical Society announced today the receipt of $4000.00 from the
CNY Arts GRACE Grant Program (Grants for Regional Arts and Cultural Engagement)
in order to replace the mural of Dr. Mary Walker on the side of the Riversend Bookstore,
19 West Bridge St.
The mural was originally commissioned by the Chamber of Commerce in 2001 as part
of a beautification project of historic murals around the city.
Dr. Mary Walker (1832-1919), Civil War Surgeon, the second woman in the United
States to get a medical degree and to date, the only female Medal of Honor recipient, is
getting much national attention this year. In August 2023, a Virginia fort was renamed
for her – the first ever for a woman – and in 2024, she will be on the US Mint’s Women’s
Series Quarters.
Commemorating the 105th anniversary of her death, a group gathered in front of the
mural on Tuesday for the announcement.
From left to right, standing:
Debbie Allen, Oswego County Historian, Brittney Jerred, Community Relations Director,
Will Barclay’s office, Eva Corradino, Oswego County Historical Society,Rob Corradino,
mayor City of Oswego, Emil and Rowan Christmann, Riversend Bookstore, George
DeMass, Town of Oswego Historian and President of the Oswego Town Historical
Society, Peter Heller, Oswego Town Museum intern, Tim Czrow, Oswego Town
Historical Society, Shawn Doyle, President, Half-Shire Historical Society, Linda Smith
and Catherine Beebe, DAR, Mary Kay Stone, Oswego County Historical
Society. Kneeling, Murat Yasar, Dean SUNY Oswego, and Bekkah and Audrey Frisch,
iHeart Oswego.
This project is made possible through the CNY Arts Grants for Regional Arts and
Cultural Engagement regrant program thanks to a New York State Senate Initiative
supported by the NYS Legislature, the Office of the Governor and administered by the
New York State Council on the Arts.