 April 2005
The National Guild of Professional Paperhanger’s Northeast
Ohio Chapter was approached by a Boy Scout working on a project for his
Eagle Scout award, the highest possible rank in scouting. Achievement
can take as long as four years and must be achieved before the age of
18. The project requirements are many, but most importantly it must have
a long-term effect in the community. The project he decided upon proved
to be a difficult one in more ways than one. Quietly tucked away and
unbeknownst to the surrounding houses and community was a safe house for
battered women and children. By their very nature, secrecy is of the
utmost. In some cases, it’s all that stands between life and death. So,
just finding the project was the first obstacle. The goal then was to
create and decorate an indoor play area for the children of those
families that would seek refuge there. There  were many things on the
list to accomplish this goal, not to mention the review committee for
approval of the overall project. Once the go ahead was given the
difficult task of getting the work done was at hand. How do you get
workers into a place that no one is allowed to know where it is?
Non-disclosure forms were required to be signed by all workers.
On Saturday, April 23, 2005 five members of the Northeast Ohio Chapter
of the NGPP: Susan Macuna, Ellen Comeau, Scott Peto, Dick Wilson and
Steve Sullivan, headed to an undisclosed location. The goal was to
install a floor to ceiling mural on an 8’ x 20’ cement block wall.
First, to create a good foundation for the mural, 54” bridging liner
paper was placed on the wall. The crew worked like a well-oiled
machine, everyone assumed a job and got to it. The only things slowing
the project down were the stories and the laughter, and a change in
paste.
This came on good advice from our chapter’s first
of many Certified Paperhangers – Steve Terranova. The finishing touches
were added by Ellen Comeau, otherwise known as the “Queen of the
Appliqué.” She applied fish to the corner as if the fish were swimming
off the scene. Even though many hours and many meetings had been spent
together, the tips and tricks were plentiful. Everyone thought the
meetings were fun but realized charity hangs are awesome. In fact so
awesome that in an unprecedented move the crew finished up and left the
charity hangs only to begin another two hours later.
This second charity hang took place at a daycare
called “For Kids Sake” that cares for kids 6 months through 5 years of
age. First up was a three panel 5’ x 12’ tropical fish scene. The
salvage was dry-trimmed using the “Macuna Method.” This is where the
matching sheets are rough trimmed then overlapped and dry double cut on
the table. The match was superb and the owner was overjoyed. Her
excitement continued when she got down to  the main office where Scott
Peto and Dick Wilson had disassembled three window scenes then combined
them into one, matching even the tree and hill lines in the background
to make a 3’ high by 6’ window view. Even the cleanup time went fast,
with talk of future charity hangs. Thanks to Ron Soeder, President of
4walls.com for donation of the murals.
The Northeast Chapter certainly projects the true meaning of
what makes the Guild proud of its members and their service to the
community. The Eagle Scout is also a tribute to the community spirit
and the Scout purpose.
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