The Peru Gazette

L-R Kevin Larkin, Rebecca Getman Larkin, Eli and Georgie Larkin, Ann Mason Getman, Carol and Ron Allen, Supervisor Peter Glushko, Douglas Mason

By John T. Ryan

“We really feel this painting is coming back to its real home,” commented Ann Mason Getman at the Monday, February 8, 2016 Town Board meeting as she presented a restored historic painting to the Town of Peru on behalf of the Mason Family. Supervisor Peter Glushko accepted the painting on behalf of the town.

Six generations of the Mason family and several friends attended the presentation. Harold Lapham (1878-1919), who is believed to have been a mill employee, painted the work in about 1915. It depicts the A. Mason sawmill, the nearby three arch bridge, the waterfall and nearby commercial buildings. Supervisor Glushko said he hopes one day the painting would be displayed in an interpretative center in the stone building at Heyworth/Mason Park. Until then, Glushko said it would be prominently displayed at the town hall.

Anne Mason Getman said that at one time the painting hung in her father Phillip Mason’s office in the Heyworth-Mason building. Phillip Mason and his brother John operated the sawmill from the early 1950’s to 1972. They were the sons of Herbert Mason. Herbert Mason was the youngest of six sons of Albert Mason who founded A. Mason and Sons in 1883 after purchasing the old stone starch factory from the Heyworths. The A. Mason and Sons lumber mill was Peru’s main industry for nearly a century, at one time employing about 100 men.

Peru Town Historian Ron Allen was very obviously thrilled about the Mason’s gift to the town. He remarked, “There is so much of Peru’s history in that picture. The young people growing up today have no idea what things were like then. One building is the Red Front Market. The building to the left was a hotel. You can see part of Peru Hardware. The three arch bridge was probably the centerpiece of the town.”