Draper Visual Arts Foundation organized in 1992 to act as caretakers of an art collection housed for many years in the old Draper Park Elementary and Junior High School.
Our HISTORY
(bY jEAN hENDRICKSEN)
In the 1920s, Reid Beck was the school principal. He had a special love for art and was himself an amateur artist. He asked the teachers and students to help bring beautiful art into this farm community school. With the help of children who donated their pennies, nickels and dimes, the first painting was purchased in 1926. Each year, at least one painting was added to the growing collection. This practice continued on for many years, even during the Great Depression. The crown jewel, a painting of Ichabod Crane, done by Norman Rockwell, was added to the collection in 1953. When Mr. Rockwell found that it was children who wanted to buy his painting, he lowered his asking price from $1200.00 to $800.00. Even so, the Junior High School students had to organize extra fund-raising projects to raise so much money!
In 1992, Hulda Crossgrove voiced concerns about the art collection. She was a first year teacher in Draper Park School in 1926 and continued her work there for many years. By this time, the old school had been closed, a new elementary school had been built and the Junior High students were sent to Mount Jordan Junior High in Sandy. So the collection was boxed up until appropriate places could be found for them. No special care had been given to them during all of those years.
Two of us listened to Hulda's concerns. Mary Sjoblom and I had been students in the old school. Both of us had taught there as well. So what should we do? Our decision was made. We asked for an appointment with the superintendent of Jordan School District. We explained our problem, but he let us know that even though our cause was just, the district did not have available funds to act on our concerns. He welcomed the idea that we might organize and be caretakers of the collection.
So our work started. Attorney Clayton Fairbourn was our first donor. He gave a check for $250.00. He gave us legal advice. Then attorney Raeburn Kennard gave pro bono services and in 1993 we became a Foundation. Other allies became Board Members, and we all worked hard to get donations to pay for restoration work on the collection.
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