By Cindy Schroeder
The Cincinnati Enquirer

An artist puts the finishing touches on one of 18 murals that will eventually cover 700 feet of Covington floodwall. (Michael E. Keating photo) | ZOOM |

COVINGTON - Artists are transforming a wall built after a devastating flood into an artistic showcase for Northern Kentucky's largest city.

Today marks the official unveiling of five murals on the Covington floodwall. Special guests include families of the Covington Boosters' 1939 World Amateur Softball Championship team depicted in one of the panels.

The picture of Federal Ball Park - built near Covington's riverfront in 1913 - was painted out of sequence so that officials could recognize Covington resident Bill Cappel, one of the last surviving team members.

Next month, the former second baseman for the world championship fast-pitch team turns 91.

"Federal Ball Park is a part of our heritage that a lot of people aren't aware of,'' said Covington Mayor Butch Callery. Artist Robert Dafford plans to paint six more murals next spring. Eventually, 18 paintings will cover 700 feet of floodwall, from the Suspension Bridge to just west of the floodwall's Madison Avenue opening.

During the recent Tall Stacks celebration, Dafford says, he talked to hundreds who wanted to know the story behind the murals.

IF YOU GO

What: Unveiling of five murals on the Covington floodwall When: 11 a.m. today Where: Covington floodwall between the foot of Madison Avenue and the Roebling Suspension Bridge Features: The public event includes remarks by local dignitaries and refreshments.

Other panels to be dedicated today include Kennedy's Ferry, which operated riverboats for 100 years between Cincinnati and Covington; Margaret Garner and slaves escaping to the North across the frozen Ohio River in 1856; a pontoon bridge Union troops built during the Civil War; and Covington banker Amos Shinkle and engineer John Roebling collaborating on the construction of the Suspension Bridge.

Paddock Hills resident Joyce Coleman, who conducts tours of local sites connected with the Underground Railroad, served as the model for women depicted in the Margaret Garner panel.

"I hope with all of these panels that people will look at them and learn the history of this area and not just say, 'Oh, these are nice murals and walk on by,' Coleman said.

Legacy, a program created by Forward Quest to develop leaders under 40, is coordinating the Roebling murals project.

Co-chairman Traci Griffin said she stopped by the mural in August to find two women in their 50s crying. "When I asked what the problem was, they said, 'That's our grandfather that's painted up there. Our mother passed away last week, and she would have loved to have seen this.' "

The sisters were clutching a copy of the black-and-white photo that Dafford had used to paint members of the world championship fast-pitch team.

"It was at that moment that it struck me just how far-reaching this project really is,'' Griffin said.

"These people were just so moved with emotion to see part of their family history up there.''

E-mail cschroeder@enquirer.com.