Strong Arm of the Law - Stony Plain, Alberta
Posted by: 
wildwoodke
N 53° 31.714 W 114° 00.489
11U E 698297 N 5935236
This mural, titled Strong Arm of the Law, depicts a railway and sherrif/policeman theme. It is found on the side of the community centre in Stony Plain, Alberta.
Waymark Code: WMDP6G
Location: Alberta, Canada
Date Posted: 02/09/2012
Views: 1
The town's website describes this mural as:
"Israel Umbach was appointed Stony Plain’s first sheriff, overseer and tax collector. Occasionally, he would come across those who were slow in paying their taxes. In 1907 it was the Canadian Northern Railway Company who was refusing to pay. Sheriff Umbach decided to seize and chain the locomotive to the tracks the next time it stopped in town. He believed this would force the company to pay. The CN paid the overdue taxes and Sheriff Umbach released the train. Umbach is seen with the chain and padlock he used, which he had purchased from the Oppertshauser and Sons Hardware Store."
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The artist's website describes the painting as:
"My first painting requiring scaffolding! At 24 feet in height, I discovered I'm not particularly fond of heights! This was one of three paintings done for the town of Stony Plain, without the townsfolk being warned we were coming - a sort of 'art attack'. It was exciting to be part of the genesis of what became a long, ongoing community art process.
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The image depicts a local hero - Israel Umbach - famous for chaining the train to the tracks to force a solution in an unpaid tax dispute with the CPR. It was painted onto rough-sawn cedar siding - very rough, very paint absorbing! A high-energy effort that is still one of my, and their, favourites."