A SPECIAL MURAL — West Liberty University students were the artists responsible for creating the mural located at Beech Bottom’s Hill Street Playground. Among those taking part in the project were, from left, Jamie Daugherty, Eddy Mayfield, Clayton Vargo and their professor, Brian Fencl. Art student Aslan Conrad also worked on painting the structure. -- Warren Scott

And with input from village officials, along with students from West Liberty University, they have found a way to honor her, while touching the lives of children who live and play there today.

Mayor Becky Uhlly said a donation of more than $5,000 was given in Bronchik’s name and has been used to purchase new welcome signs at the community’s north and south ends along state Route 2.

She noted the contribution has made a big impact on Hill Street Playground, a center of activity for Beech Bottom that may go unnoticed by the many drivers who pass it each day.

Along the base of the basketball court on the park’s east end are three sections of a retaining wall. This summer, that wall served as the canvass for a colorful mural which was painted by art students at West Liberty University and their professor, Brian Fencl.

A PICTURE’S WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS — Art students at West Liberty University painted various creatures and wildlife on the three sections of retaining wall along the basketball court at Beech Bottom’s Hill Street Playground. The students used paint and other materials that were purchased through a donation given in memory of Melinda Grampa Bronchik, a former village resident. -- Warren Scott

Using paint and other materials purchased by the village, Fencl and his students depicted images of wildlife associated with the community.

Found among the branches and leaves of beech trees — for which the village was named — are a deer, black bear, cardinal, monarch butterfly and other creatures.

Some of them are official state mascots, but all are closely associated with the community, West Virginia or both.

“The concept was to keep it very West Virginian,” said Fencl.

He noted the three sections of retaining wall provided an unusual canvass, extending more than 100 feet but standing no more than 6 feet high.

IN THE DETAILS — The details and time it took to create this mural of wildlife creatures was all worth it to student artists from West Liberty University, who created the mural at the Beech Bottom Hill Street Playground in memory of Melinda Bronchik. -- Warren Scott

“It’s a pretty decent amount of space to cover, but it was nice we didn’t need ladders,” said Fencl, who has worked with his students on murals at Oglebay Good Zoo and in Wheeling.

He said village officials approached him while the university was on summer break; however, he was able to recruit a handful of students residing locally to perform the task. Students included Clayton Vargo, Eddy Mayfield, Jamie Daugherty, Jaxxie Marcum and Aslan Conrad.

Senior art students were charged with depicting the more-complex images, while newer students produced the backgrounds.

Fencl said as he and the students worked, they were observed by many visitors to the park.

“The people of Beech Bottom were so supportive and would bring them (his students) lunch,” he said.

Fencl added it was nice to have children at the playground asking questions about their work. He stated he hopes the mural will help to inspire future young artists.

He said it rained occasionally while they were painting, but fortunately, the acrylic paint used dries very quickly and wasn’t affected.

Fencl said when the students finished, he applied a sealant to protect the mural against the elements. The sealant also will help to preserve its colors, though some fading will occur with time.

Fencl said he is responsible for the village seal and small images of two major landmarks from the Beech Bottom area’s past: The Wheeling Corrugating Plant, now home to the Beech Bottom Industrial Park; and an airfield used by members of the West Virginia Flying Corps, a group of volunteer pilots who trained there to support the American military during World War I.

He said the photos of the sites which Uhlly provided were quite faded. So, he took some artistic liberties to recreate those scenes.

Those who take a closer look at the mural will find within the flowers that line the ground beneath those images, the letters of Bronchik’s name.

A fitting tribute, Uhlly said, because she was known for her love of flowers. A plaque honoring Bronchik has been installed at the park as well.

Bronchik was 67 when she died on Oct. 7, 2023. She had faced many medical challenges and was a champion for organ transplants, having received a kidney herself.

Her marriage to Jim Bronchik, her husband of more than 34 years, had brought her to West Lafayette, Indiana.

But she often spoke fondly of Beech Bottom, said her brother, Rudy. He, along with his brothers, John and Bruno, survive her.

Rudy said the idea of a memorial donation in her memory originated from her son, Bryan. Rudy, who had contacted Uhlly on the family’s behalf, recalled riding bicycles in the village with his siblings and playing with them on its basketball courts and a baseball field that once existed on the other side of Route 2.

“We were very fond of Beech Bottom, especially my sister,” he said. “She always talked about it all through her life. She really enjoyed it.”

Of the park’s tribute to his sister, he said, “It really means a lot to us, having grown up in Beech Bottom.”