The mural on the barn wall was painted by Scott Higam; it took him around a week to paint the mural and he has painted barn murals in the past for the American 250 project. (Photo by Clara Noelle)

MARIETTA — The George Broughton Barn at 2015 Ohio 821 was dedicated to Commodore Abraham Whipple on Wednesday with a mural of the commodore.

Whipple was a founder of Marietta and Whipple, a community in southern Lower Salem, comes from the late commodore.

Whipple was a naval soldier during the French and Indian War, as a British soldier, and the American Revolution, as an American soldier. The commodore was involved in an early act of revolution against the British. He and a group of his comrades captured and burned a British ship called the Gaspee.

Commodore Whipple is buried in Marietta at the Mound Cemetery.

Scott Britton, historian and executive director of The Castle, spoke about Whipple’s past as well as his role in the American Revolution.

Scott Britton, historian for the Sons of the American Revolution and Executive Director of the Marietta Castle Museum, speaks at the Barn dedication on Wednesday. Britton spoke on Commodore Abraham Whipple’s past. Whipple was one of Marietta’s founders as well as a Navy officer in the American Revolution as an American soldier; he also served in the French and Indian War as a British soldier. The name of a community in Lower Salem, Whipple, was named after Whipple Run. Whipple Run, a nearby stream, was named after the late commodore after he fell in said creek. (Photo by Clara Noelle)

The owner of the barn and the surrounding property, George Broughton, also spoke at the dedication.

“It is a great pleasure for us to provide this opportunity,” said Broughton.

Megan Wood, CEO and Executive Director of Ohio History, also made an appearance at Wednesday’s dedication. Wood said that older and historical buildings that are also intact are favorable for the kind of projects Ohio History is looking to accomplish with its American 250 project.

The barn that was dedicated on Wednesday is old; the Mail Pouch Tobacco advertisement on the side of it is proof of that, Wood pointed out. Wood also noted the point and effect of the mural.

“It’s an effort to use local and historical buildings to tell local history,” said Wood.

Megan Wood, Executive Director and CEO of Ohio History, talks about the importance of the barn dedication as it relates to history and preservation. “It is an effort to use local historical buildings to tell local history,” said Wood. (Photo by Clara Noelle)

The barn dedication is one of many projects in the American 250 project.

“There are three levels to the (American 250); there is federal, state and local/county,” said Washington County Commissioner Kevin Ritter. “There are three co-chairs on our local level including myself. The other co-chairs are Mayor Josh Schlicher and LeeAnn Johnson.”

Since the start of the committee, the co-chairs have added 16 volunteer members.

“We hope to eventually have 20-25 members on the committee,” said Ritter.

The American 250 committees are dedicated to brainstorm ideas to celebrate the country until July 4, 2026, when the country turns 250. The committees will organize patriotic events up to the 250th birthday of the U.S.

George Broughton, the owner of the barn and the surrounding property, speaks during the dedication of the barn on Wednesday. “It is a great pleasure for us to provide this opportunity,” said Broughton. (Photo by Clara Noelle)

Ritter said he hopes to accomplish the patriotism of the U.S.’s major past birthdays.

The mural on the barn was painted by Scott Higam. It took Higam around a week to paint the mural.

“The mural is fabulous,” said Nancy Hollister, a speaker at the dedication.

Although born in Rhode Island, Hollister is a longtime Marietta resident and noted that projects similar to the barn mural are acknowledging famous Ohioans and their roles in history.

“We used to say ‘Welcome to Ohio, the heart of it all,'” said Hollister. “But now I say ‘Welcome to Marietta, Ohio, the start of it all.'”

Clara Noelle can be reached at intern@newsandsentinel.com.