A vibrant new mural, commemorating Avoca’s agricultural heritage and railway past, was unveiled on Friday, November 15th, near South Main Street.
The hand-painted artwork, created by local artist Brian Buckley, took five months to complete and showcases the town’s vital role in potato farming and its connection to the broader railway network.
The mural depicts a bygone era when Avoca was a bustling hub of agricultural activity. It pays homage to the countless workers, including those who migrated from the South, who contributed to the town’s prosperity.
“They had all kinds of potato picking going on, and machine potato picking, and this town had thousands and thousands of people for the harvest time,” Buckley explained, highlighting the scale of the town’s agricultural operations.
Avoca native Christina Reisen expressed her enthusiasm for the new mural, stating, “I grew up here in Avoca, so I went from kindergarten to high school and graduated here, of course, in Avoca, and we’ve not had anything like this. So, I think it’s fabulous, and I think it helps the community a lot to come together and whatnot.”
Buckley’s goal is to not only beautify the town but also to educate the community about its history. His artistic talents will soon grace another local landmark, the Finger Lakes Boating Museum, where he plans to create another captivating mural.
