Staunton, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Ast Building
Photographed By J. J. Prats, September 24, 2008
1. Ast Building Marker
Inscription.
Ast Building. . The photo shows the staff of Ast Hardware around 1915; Capt. Joseph P. Ast is second from left. In 1975, this half of the Ast building was demolished to provide an access ramp to the new parking garage, leaving the blank wall of the remaining part of the building. In 1980, a competition was held to choose a mural design for this blank wall. The whimsical result is if a painter painting back the original side wall of the old Ast Hardware building!
The photo shows the staff of Ast Hardware around 1915; Capt. Joseph P. Ast is second from left. In 1975, this half of the Ast building was demolished to provide an access ramp to the new parking garage, leaving the blank wall of the remaining part of the building. In 1980, a competition was held to choose a mural design for this blank wall. The whimsical result is if a painter painting back the original side wall of the old Ast Hardware building!
Erected by Historic Staunton Foundation.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Places. A significant historical year for this entry is 1915.
Location. 38° 8.961′ N, 79° 4.425′ W. Marker is in Staunton, Virginia. Marker is at the intersection of West Beverley Street (Virginia Route 254) and South Central Avenue when traveling east on West Beverley Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Staunton VA 24401, United States of America. Touch for directions.
3. Former Ast Building, at Half its Original Width
Trompe l'oeil (mural) consists of the side windows and white plaster design. Walkway leads to the roof of the parking garage behind the building. The space gained by the half-demolition was also used to widen Center Street.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on October 11, 2008, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 1,350 times since then and 14 times this year. Last updated on October 13, 2008, by Linda Walcroft of Woodstock, Virginia. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on October 11, 2008, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.