Historical Society to preserve Jerry’s Supper Club mural

The mural that hung in the dining room of Jerry’s Supper Club in downtown Owatonna for 50 years will be preserved by the Steele County Historical Society, thanks to the generosity of the building’s owner and nearly 90 people who have contributed nearly $6,000 to its preservation fund so far.
After visiting the restaurant in early January, the historical society launched a fundraiser through GoFundMe to preserve and display the 6-by-21 foot mural in the atrium of the History Center, as well as produce interpretive signage to help tell the story of Jerry’s and the mural.
Two days after launching the fundraiser, the historical society’s $4,000 goal had been met.
The mural, described as an iconic piece of local art and history by the historical society, is painted on canvas that is affixed to the wall of the former supper club. According to the historical society, the wall itself will be removed, framed and transported to the History Center where it will be hung in the atrium.
The Claremont Area Chamber, through its charitable gaming funds, is one of the donors to the mural’s preservation fund.
“It’s a piece of history we thought should be saved,” said Dean Schuette, president of the Claremont Chamber. “It’s something that’s been a part of Owatonna and Steele County area a long time.”
Schuette said the Chamber did use Jerry’s for events when it was open. “We also have a lot of Chamber members who reside in Steele County.”
The Claremont Chamber also operates a charitable gaming site in Blooming Prairie and in the past has operated sites in Owatonna and Hope.
The historical society is still accepting donations for the Jerry’s Supper Club Mural Preservation Fund. All money raised will go to the cost of installing, maintaining, and displaying the mural as well as other necessary improvements being made in the Atrium and Lange Theater, according the historical society’s Facebook page.