A 28 x 6 foot canvas mural painted by the late William Cumming in 1941 (partial panel pictured here, photo by Eric Chauvin) was saved from a probable trip to the garbage dump recently after being diverted to the fairgrounds by Tony Breckenridge, a long-time Skagit Valley resident who found the mysterious canvas folded and stored in a family barn.

The mural had been cast aside, left for most of the summer in a crumpled heap 40 feet from the Breckinridge Farm garbage container – a near wretched ending to a public art piece that once hung on display in the corridor of the old Burlington High School.

After receiving the donated mural last month, Skagit County Park and Recreation Director Brian Adams (a Fidalgo Island resident) unrolled it at the fairgrounds. He immediately recognized it as a significant painting, possibly stemming from the Northwest School of Art.

After reaching out unsuccessfully to several local institutions for more information about the painting, Adams decided to display it prominently at the Main Stage at the Skagit County Fair. Surely one of the 25,000 fairgoers would know something about the painting?

The mural drew the attention of reporters from the Skagit Valley Herald and a photo and article were splashed on the front page. The photo went viral, and the artist was tentatively identified as William Cumming, a periphery visionary of the Northwest School of Art. Two days later the origin of custodial possession was unearthed by Bret Lunsford of the Anacortes Historical Museum through a news story he discovered in the Skagit Publishing archives. A photo and article in an old Burlington newspaper confirmed Cumming as the artist.

Skagit County and Burlington-Edison School District have now been entrusted as stewards of the painting, originally funded through a federal arts program (WPA) and commissioned by the student body for display at Burlington High School. County and school officials will meet with members of the Breckinridge Family to ensure the mural finds a home with a local organization that can properly display and preserve it.

The County is currently researching and communicating with several entities that not only have the ability to preserve the valuable and historic mural, but will also ensure it will be enjoyed by the public as originally intended.