Sponsored by 

Lehighton Area Heritage Alliance

Painted by Artists

Beth Franks  |  Eddie Jo Gaston  |  CindyMertz-Lufaw  |  Rebecca Finsel  |  Mary Collins  |  Terry Brown

On Display at

Lehighton Area Middle School

"Franz Kline Muler" was created in 2003 as part of the public art project "Miles of Mules" organized by the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor.  170 of these fanciful works of art could be found from Scranton to Bristol.

Before the American Industrial Revolution, mules hauled anthracite coal from the mines. Mules towed boats and barges along the canals and pulled the farmer’s plow.

“Franz Kline Muler” is a tribute to Lehighton native and renowned artist, Franz Kline, with colored scenes of Lehighton’s heritage and Kline’s abstract expressionist style black strokes. Kline’s abstract expressionist style evokes feelings of movement, energy and a buzz of excitement. Similar to Kline’s style, the Lehighton area is driven by energy - a continuum of energies from the Native American tribes, to coal miners and breaker boys, railroads, the Lehigh River, and the mules of the canal. Energy cannot be destroyed, and continues its transformation into today’s intensifying, ascending community of Lehighton.

Inspired by Kline’s scenic “Lehighton” mural of the borough that he painted on the wall behind the bar at Lehighton American Legion Post 314,“Franz Kline Muler’s” powerful, yet docile musculature is colored with scenes of Lehighton’s heritage: The Jake Arner Airport, Gnaden Huetten Cemetery, the Lehigh River, Lehighton Fairgrounds, and other symbols of Lehighton’s strength and history.

Bringing Franz Back Out in the Community Where He Belongs!