A once plain wall at the Fourth Street Depot in Fort Dodge is now decorated with a colorful mural showing a piece of the community’s history: the old Bennett Viaduct.

The bridge spanned the Des Moines River from 1901 to 1981. A large American flag known as Old Glory on the River flies from one of the bridge’s old supports in the middle of the river.

While the bridge is gone, its memory has been brought back to life thanks to a local business owner and a local artist.

That business owner is Rick Thompson, owner of the Fourth Street Depot. That artist is Kelly Hynes. Thompson asked Hynes to paint something railroad-related on an outside wall of the restaurant and bar.

Thompson and Hynes decided on the Bennett Viaduct as the subject of the artwork. The inspiration for the image came from an old postcard.

Hynes did the job in about 28 hours over six days earlier this month.

The resulting mural features the bridge, plus buildings, railroad tracks and a railroad passenger car beneath it.

We encourage everyone to take a look at this mural at 300 S. Fourth St.

The mural project added a splash of color and interest to a basic wall. But in enhancing that wall Hynes and Thompson have given the community a gift that will help it remember a piece of its history for years to come.

For this gift, we say thank you.