Oliver the Tobacco Worm Mural

"Oliver, the World's Largest Tobacco Hornworm" 

By: Michael Brown 

15 W. Fourth Street 

In 2013, as part of their long-range work plan, the Appearance Commission set a goal of having murals painted in the downtown area of Wendell. The purposes of adding murals is to create conversation pieces to help draw visitors to the downtown area and surrounding area; help improve the vibrancy of the community; and to help encourage other building/business owners to have a mural painted on their property or just a fresh coat of paint to the building.

The Appearance Commission contacted Michael Brown, a professional muralist from Carrboro with over 30 years of experience, to create mural ideas to honor Wendell’s tobacco heritage. Based on prior mural feedback from residents and business owners, the Appearance Commission felt that a tobacco theme was the next desired theme for a mural. Mr. Brown was asked to design a mural on the Cypress Street end of the building at 15 W. Fourth Street since it provided a large canvas to properly depict a tobacco mural. Oliver, named after Oliver Wendell Holmes, can regularly be found wearing different hats to celebrate different holidays and seasons.

Click here to view the mural as it was being created.