COVER STORY A PROJECT OF
BUNYAN SIZE While 200 Paul Bunyan statues exist in the United States, in Shelton he is "larger than life", with two giant representations to celebrate the annual Forest Festival. In April, a new face appeared in Shelton -well, two new faces– a Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox mural were installed at Outlook Park overlooking Shelton. The plywood mural stands 32 feet tall and 16 feet wide. requiring a total of 24 sheets of plywood to complete. The mural is attached to the permanent poles erected in 2019 for the Beauchamp Santa Claus. Coordinators hope that alternating giant murals celebrating Shelton and Mason County's heritage can be continually seen at this spot. The Santa Claus received a great deal of attention in 2018 when it appeared on the yard at Toziers Hardware. Visitors drove from all over the state to get their photo taken in the doll's head 16' up the mural. Paul and Babe were designed from a compilation of histori-
cal Bunyans pageant and float designs as well as Shelton High School's iconic high-climber images. Engineered drawings were created by architect, Wayne Wenstob. Although Mason County's Forest Festival is canceled this year, this is a reminder on how integral the event is to our heritage – both with the timber tradition and the celebration of youth and community.
Left: Paul smiles benevolently as John Hansen honors logger tradition and grooms his shoulder with a STIHL; Right: Queen Grace Renecker stands in front of the new mural.
Thank you to project sponsors, City of Shelton and Mason County. Plywood and hardware were generously donated by Builders First Choice. Shopper's Weekly contributed sign decals. Paul will be removed in August when he will stored until he marks the return of Forest Festival in 2021.
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