Need help editing articles? Start out with the new Introduction to Editing Articles Video.
Smith-Holden Music
Smith-Holden Music was a professional's and student's music store located at 222 W. Kirkwood Avenue. They bought, sold and rented all types of instruments, sheet music and accessories, and offered lessons in most instruments as well. It was founded by George Holden sometime prior to 1960.
Smith-Holden went out of business in 2009.
Notes Wall
In 1976 George Holden commissioned a mural for the west wall of the store, which was one of the more recognizable features of Bloomington for many years: a giant painted music score that was clearly visible while driving up Kirkwood Avenue. The song was called Three Epitaphs and was by Dr. Thomas Beversdorf
The west wall of the Smith Holden Building originally functioned as the retaining wall for the Pullman Hotel, which was demolished in 1977. Following the hotel's removal, the wall remained part of the adjacent property where the hotel once stood. The mural was created using thin, quarter-inch indoor paneling, a material not designed for prolonged outdoor exposure, and was not meant to be permanent. Over time, the mural deteriorated due to exposure to weather conditions, neglect, and the natural aging process, as it was not maintained by Smith Holden Music.
The wall's owner, concerned about the mural’s continuing declining condition, requested that it be either properly maintained or replaced with durable, weather-resistant materials to ensure its longevity. A common misconception arose due to an inaccurate report in a local newspaper, which suggested that the mural had been arbitrarily removed by the wall’s owner.
Despite the property owner's repeated requests for maintenance, the mural deteriorated, causing structural weaknesses and posing a safety risk with falling bricks on the public sidewalk that ran through the private property, making the property owner liable for hazards associated with the deteriorating structure. The deteriorated mural was ultimately removed during the City of Bloomington's Kirkwood renovation, and essential repairs were made to the wall to prevent further damage and ensure public safety.
The store went out of business and Abodes, Inc. had agreed to restore the mural as part of the purchase agreement. As Abodes began renovating the building into a restaurant and apartments in the summer of 2010, the mural was torn down, but plans to create a duplicate of the mural on more durable materials were announced. This never came to fruition.
Logo
The logo of Smith-Holden Music had a Treble Clef in place of the S in Smith and a Bass Clef attached to a line in place of the H in Holden.
