The Dalles Historic Landmarks Commission on the application of Ellen Potter, executive director of the Dallas Art Center, approved HLC application 219-24 and adopted Resolution 205-25 to paint an approximately 8-foot by 16-foot mural of Winnie the Pooh and friends on the south-facing alley wall of 102 East Second Street.

The mural will be produced by Dallas Art Center summer-camp students under the guidance of local muralist and instructor Danae Mannion. Sandy Freund, senior planner and HLC coordinator for the City of The Dalles, told the commission that the application met the applicable criteria, including the Secretary of the Interior’s standards and Title 11 of the Dallas Municipal Code, and that staff recommended adoption of Resolution 205-25 granting approval to paint the mural.

“The mural project is going to be an incorporation of these scenes of the Hundred Acre Wood, Winnie the Pooh and friends,” Sandy Freund said in her staff presentation, noting the design materials included an original 1959 sketch and other reference illustrations included with the application. Freund also explained that the property lies within The Dalles Commercial Historic District but that the subject building is classified by the State Historic Preservation Office as non‑contributing.

Ellen Potter, executive director of the Dallas Art Center and the applicant, described the project as a hands‑on instructional opportunity for children. “We have two weeks of camps that will be working on it,” Potter said. “First it would be the first‑to‑third grade group, followed by the fourth‑to‑sixth grade group, which would do the finishing work.” Potter said the design nods to an earlier Winnie the Pooh image that once was in the Carnegie Library children’s room and is intended to be child‑friendly and community oriented.

Commission discussion emphasized the educational and community engagement aspects of the proposal. One commissioner said the project would help involve younger residents in local historic places and public art and called the mural a positive contribution to the district. Commissioners asked whether the mural would be painted directly on the existing siding; Potter and staff confirmed the work will be applied to the building’s siding and that the muralist has experience painting varied surfaces.

After discussion, a motion to approve HLC application 219-24 was made and seconded. The commission voted to approve the application and adopted Resolution 205-25. The commission’s vote was recorded as in favor; the resolution and application numbers on the record are HLC application 219-24 and HLC Resolution 205-25.

Potter indicated the project team intends to follow up with the local mural‑walk organizers to request inclusion of the mural in the city’s mural guide after the commission approval. Staff also asked the commission whether it wished to continue reviewing proposed murals on non‑contributing buildings located in the historic district; commissioners indicated support for continuing review of such proposals.

Details recorded in the staff report include the building’s historic-site record name (Union Oil Building), a circa‑1930 construction date, and that current tenants include medical and professional offices. Staff materials for the hearing included photos, artist sketches, and the applicant’s written narrative and design attachments.