In the early 1900s, the electric train and the steam engine made periodic stops in North Plains to carry people and freight in and out of this aspiring community. North Plains was a transport center for agricultural vendors and fur traders. Over the years, the bustling hub grew quiet and people moved to larger towns. The remnants of the past such as the corrugated, metal grain storage buildings that sit in the heart of town were sometimes seen as an eye sore to the community. A group of citizens, with the help of the Urban Renewal Agency, Chamber of Commerce and the Washington County Visitors Association, worked with the building’s owners to revitalize the structures through a mural project. This group wanted to bring the past to the present so future generations would have a greater appreciation of the town.
Building off of that project, the City of North Plains commissioned local artist Allison McClay who used the collection of old photos from the North Plains Historical Society to paint murals on several downtown buildings. These visuals depict a vibrant and detailed version of the rich past of North Plains. The murals give onlookers a colorful display of the historical train station, a stagecoach, the band stand, local grocer, and the agricultural lifestyle of days gone by. One such mural on the Abbey Creek Winery building depicts an array of neighbors interacting and enjoying a large bounty.
