Artist Jill Kokesh met with Fort Pierre Development & Shane Mattheis, owner of the Chuckwagon/Chateau Lounge & Event Center

Kokesh met with Dave Bonde, FPDC Executive Director, FPDC Office Manager Sunny Hannum and Chateau Owner Shane Mattheis the morning of July 7th to get the ball rolling on the ghost mural project on the north side brick wall of what used to be Gordon Hotel and Duffy’s Cafe. It is currently the Chateau Lounge and Event Center. Kokesh will begin painting on the lower ghost murals (subtly reviving the old signage with a thin application of paint so a translucent effect is achieved). Similar to what one might see in historic downtown Lead and Deadwood in the Black Hills. Because of the height of the work to be done above the street, a lift will be required.  Mattheis had salvaged the original free standing coke bottle that was part of the original signage so it can be replicated. The work was scheduled to begin the week after the 4th of July but has been delayed until Kokesh’s boom operator is available.
The Ghost Mural project is being financed by a Fort Pierre Tourism Beautification Grant and the FPDC Downtown Committee that meets at the Log Cabin at 8 a.m. the first Thursday of each month.  The original project was to include both the Rowe Hardware and Gordon Hotel buildings but Hannum ran into road blocks in obtaining a grant for tuck pointing on the Rowe Hardware. Tuck pointing was necessary to repair the bricks before the “ghost murals” could be done on the Rowe Hardware. Both buildings were built around 1900.
Hannum said, “If we don’t preserve our old buildings and our history, what will happen to our town and our heritage.  I am committed to this project long term and will continue to search for funds for the work on the Rowe Hardware building.” She added an adage she picked up at the SDSU Energize Conference:  “Failure is the pathway to success.”
Photo below is of Hannum and Mattheis as they discuss the images on the side of the Chateau (Photo Credit Jill Kokesh)