Arlington Heights dedicates nostalgic mural in honor of artist

A newly installed 12-by-17-foot mural was dedicated Friday night to honor the Arlington Heights of yesteryear and memory of a celebrated local artist.

The mural, on the second floor of village hall, is a reproduction of a painting by the late Jack Musich that shows a Fourth of July celebration at Meyer's Pond park at the turn of the 20th century. The park, located on the site of the current village hall, was the setting for summer parties, picnics, sports and winter ice-skating from the late 1800s to 1934.

The village's arts commission hosted the dedication, attended by some 20 members of the Musich family, including children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren - some traveling in from Massachusetts. The Arlingtones, the local a cappella men's chorus, performed as a tribute to Musich, who was a longtime tenor in the group.

Musich, who died last September, created several whimsical paintings depicting everyday life in Arlington Heights in the early 20th century. In 2012, he received the commission's Cultural Arts Award and a Heart of Gold Award.