SS Simpson Shelton Riverboat, Elma, Washington
N 47° 00.396 W 123° 24.291
10T E 469224 N 5205977
This is one of several mural painted by James Abbott in Elma, Washington
Waymark Code: WMH475
Location: Washington, United States
Date Posted: 05/19/2013
Views: 4
Riverboat mural
This mural if of the old riverboat called "The SS Simpson Shelton", and is one the the latest murals James Abbott painted in Elma, it was completed in August, 1995. It is painted on the back wall of the building that currently houses Hometown Liquidators at 319 W Martin St, Elma, WA. (This mural is located in a one-way alley).
About the Riverboats:
The town of Shelton, Washington is located on Puget Sound and is the county seat of Mason County; it is the only town in Washington state that still uses the Mayor/Commission form of government. The town was incorporated in 1890 (formerly called Sheltonville, it was named after territorial legislature delegate David Shelton), and the town once was home to a small fleet of steamboats that were part of the historic "Puget Sound Mosquito Fleet". Some of the other steamboats were named Old Settler, City of Shelton, Clara Brown, Marian, Willie, Irene, and S. G. Simpson. In addition to the fleet, the town is known for logging (The Shelton Logging Company), Christmas trees, oyster cultivation and farming/dairy farms.
About Elma:
Elma was named for Elma Austin, whose family settled in the area prior to 1860. The town of Elma was a trading center for the homesteaders who arrived and settled in the Chehalis River Valley, on land donated by pioneer families of Joseph Young and James Long Waldrip. These families had arrived by wagon train in May of 1860. (Waldrip was married to Young's daughter). The city was incorportated in 1888, and by the 2000 census, there were 3,049 residents.
The visitor information for Elma boasts 22 historic murals, all of which were painted in the 1990’s.
Elma Murals: The information about this mural was provided from the "Elma Washington Visitor Guide" written by Luke Bailey of the store Chocolates Made Easy.
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visit link)
About the Artist:
Artist James Abbott begain painting walls while just 9 years old, and still in school, when his teacher allowed him to decorate the school blackboards with holiday themed art (Thanksgiving turkeys, Santa Claus for Christmas). As a adult he painted murals on walls in California, Oregon and Washington (about 100 in all). In the Grays Harbor area, his logging themed murals have been seen by thousands, with some becoming rather faded. He painted about 16 murals in the small town of Elma. Abbott painted his murals with the thought that they would be viewed most often from a speeding car, and left out much detail for that reason. Abbott graduated from Sierra College. He also served in the Army for 17 years and the Air Force for 3, retiring after 20 years in communications. He began painting professionally in 1958.