LAWTON – A scene of Lawton residents mingling with local landmarks hangs on the north side of the Patterson Community Center, located at 4 NE Arlington Ave.
The Patterson Center mural was painted about 30 years ago, but it was damaged by weather. Brothers and muralists Darry and Terry Shaw recently restored the mural, using a photo of the original as a reference point.
“We started it three weeks ago, and we worked on it on the weekends,” Terry Shaw said. “And then we actually installed it last Saturday.”
The City of Lawton hosted a media day Friday at the Patterson Center to showcase the restored mural, which shows neighborhood children and adult residents of the Patterson community. Local landmarks, including the Patterson Center and Douglass Elementary School, are in the background.
People who live in the neighborhood were concerned when the old mural was removed to make way for the new one, said local pastor Charles Webber.
“To see it replaced today brings great joy,” he said. “I know the community will drive by and see it and love that it’s back up.”
Yolanda Allen, activities coordinator for the Patterson Center, said the mural represents Lawton’s African-American leaders and the people who attend events at the center.
“It’s a great thing,” she said.
For Lawton City Councilwoman Onreka Johnson, who represents Ward 7, the mural documents an important part of Lawton’s history.
“This community has a lot of things that we’ve gone through – minorities here,” she said. “This just gives a reflection and a highlight on some of the trendsetters in our community and what they did and the doors that they opened, and some of the traditions that started because of them.”