Watch CBS News

Iconic Piece Of Americana Covered In 1964 Once Again On Display In Salida

SALIDA, Colo. (CBS4) - Some say history can't be covered up and forgotten, but that's what happened to a World War II mural painted on an old building.

The Honor Roll wall on 2nd Street and F Street in Salida was covered with stucco in 1964, but now the iconic piece of Americana is once again on display.

Larry and Louise Kachadourian bought the historic building that long housed a pharmacy. The couple began a corner store business and recently began to chisel away at the stucco on the building to reveal the names of men and women who served in World War II.

"Really wasn't sure what it was going to take, I started by myself in the middle," said Larry Kachadourian.

Chaffee County Honor Roll Board1
(credit: Rick Shovald)

The Chaffee County Honor Roll Board was painted on the wall during World War II and included dozens of names.

Volunteers used chisels to painstakingly remove the stucco and what they have revealed is remarkable.

"It went away and everybody was upset about it," said WWII veteran Dan Johnson. "It's been so wonderful to get this back."

Chaffee County Honor Roll Board
(credit: Rick Shovald)

"Even only being in town for a few years, I was recognizing some of these names as people who are still in town," said Kachadourian.

Kachadourian plans to have the names on the wall restored fully, and members of the Colorado Historical Society are on the site currently evaluating the art.

"To uncover the greatest generation after 50 years, I had no idea this was here, people who have lived here for 50 years didn't know it was here," said mural restoration volunteer Rick Shovald.

"I moved here in 1949, that's the first thing I saw. I worked in the Safeway store right across the street and I don't think I missed a day looking at this wall," said Johnson.

Matt Kroschel covers news throughout Colorado working from the CBS4 Mountain Newsroom. Send story ideas to mrkroschel@cbs.com and connect with him on Twitter @Matt_Kroschel.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.