Girl Scout initiates mural that shows off everything in Hebron’s backyard

HEBRON, Neb. (KOLN) - The "World's Largest Covered Porch Swing" is what gives Hebron the title of the Nebraska Porch Swing Capital. The structure stretches across Roosevelt Park, and it's featured on a new mural that showcases everything in Hebron's Backyard.

The town's identity is spelled out in letters by muralist Jamie Luttrell.

"I just tried to stuff as much into (the letters) without making them overly full," Luttrell said. "I just thought it was kind of cool to highlight where we are - to pin us."

In big letters, the Hebron mural shows off landmarks, historic tributes and patriotic traditions.

The scenes include Hebron's water tower with the new logo, the Little Blue River, a geographical map, the fireworks show and southeast Nebraska's sunsets.

She even painted a black and gray covered wagon to symbolize how the Oregon Trail impacted the expansion of the Midwest.

"This one took me the longest," Luttrell said, gesturing to the 'O'. "Somebody was like, 'Well, you could just paint the courthouse without the flags, and I was like, 'Nope.' They have to have the flags. It's my favorite thing about the courthouse when they do that event (for Memorial Day)."

While painting the mural, Luttrell even included a tiny sign on the mural that she re-painted previously on the grain elevator.

This is one of many murals Luttrell left behind in the area and in the True Value hardware store that she runs with her husband.

But a Girl Scout inspired the new mural on the city office building.

"I saw the city was just wanting to beautify the city," said Isabella Escritt, a junior at Thayer Central. "So I wanted to paint a mural because I really like painting. I wanted to help with that."

Escritt approached Luttrell and the city of Hebron with this idea.

"I knew I wanted it to be like the letters 'H-E-B-R-O-N" and the words, and (Luttrell) just kind of took it from there and what the city was," Escritt said.

Before Cross Country practice, Escritt painted with Luttrell and the muralist's 20-year-old daughter Dayci.

This project helped Escritt earn a Gold Award, the highest achievement for Girl Scouts. And it brings downtown Hebron one step closer to becoming a creative district.

"We've had volunteers from 10 years old to 70 and above, helping us lay some brick and help plant," said Jana Tietjen, the Hebron City Clerk. "The high school construction class has been down here constructing the fence."

These efforts were sparked by a USDA Rural Business Development Grant that replaced two condemned buildings. Now lot beside city hall has been turned into the Backyard Bricks.

"You think of a porch swing on the front of your house," Tietjen said. "What's in the back of your house? A pergola, an outdoor space where people are listening to music, maybe have some drinks, play games - so we wanted to feature we have the front yard, now we have the backyard as well."

Tietjen said the city is planning to install a stage eventually for live music events in the Backyard Bricks. It's all a part of their mission to help people feel "At Home in Hebron."