ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – Change could be coming to the inside of the Delta County Airport terminal, as administrators consider an update to its existing mural.
The mural has been on display since 2000. Kylie Kalishek, owner of Blading Boutique & Small Business Emporium, says it’s become outdated, depicting an old computer and the former name of the paper mill.
“I think it’s served its purpose,” she said. “I know it was well intended when it was painted, but in the last 25 years or so, a lot of things have changed.”
On Monday, Kalishek approaches the Airport Advisory Board to propose a change. She presented her own family’s history in aviation in a series of photos and news clippings, taken from a larger display at her storefront.
“My grandpa and his sisters were wingwalkers in the flying circus,” Kalishek said. “His sister Ladya was the first woman in the world to run an airport. She opened flight schools all over the country. His sister Sarah and Ladya opened a flight school here, as well as the Wells Airport that opened in the 1920s. They were barnstormers, so they’d travel the country hanging off of planes, stunt flying.”
Kalishek’s family’s history includes two female pilots, who she says made it to the sky even before Amelia Earhart became a pilot.
“They were flying before you needed a pilot’s license,” Kalishek told the board. “I can’t imagine Amelia’s hometown not wanting claim to her, and you guys have four aviators who were from here and did phenomenal things all over the world.”
The Advisory Board still has to consider funding, timing with other projects, and any input from the mural’s artist, James Finlan, before making a decision. However, Airport Manager Robert Ranstadler has been looking for a way to refresh the airport for months. He believes this update could be a step in the right direction.
“I think she has a fantastic vision about what we could do as far as replacing the mural that would still be very representational of the county and very applicable to what we do at the airport,” Ranstadler said.
Kalishek hopes to see her vision of sharing the legacy of her family, and Delta County, with airport passengers.
“Something the artist did that was really great was he was able to originally incorporate local history,” she said. “That’s what I’m trying to do once again.”
To see more of Kalishek’s family’s aviation history, visit Blading Boutique & Small Business Emporium at 1107 Ludington Street.
