Cambridge Community Clinic’s Mural - A New Local Landmark

Yvette Cadeaux, Cambridge Correspondent

The Cambridge Community Clinic is a non-profit organization that provides affordable space to health care providers who serve the Cambridge area. Currently, the clinic houses a dental office and a medical clinic. The Cambridge Community Clinic has been operating the building, located at 70 N. Superior Street, since 1971.

“Our goal is to bring health care to the upper country,” said the clinic’s Board Chair Ray Turnbull. “We supply the building, and the doctors and dentists pay the rent.” Currently, Two Rivers Medical Clinic is the medical provider at the Cambridge Community Clinic, and Mountain West Dental provides dental care.

Turnbull, along with the rest of the Community Clinic’s board, decided last year that it was time to have a mural adorn the side of the venerable old building. In 2000, the brick building was stabilized, and the bricks were re-pointed. This is a process where all the mortar holding the bricks together is replaced. After the repairs, Turnbull felt that the “gorgeous” wall was deserving of a mural.

“Some towns have lots of murals,” he said. Now, Cambridge was going to join those towns.

The inspiration behind the mural was the masthead of the old Upper Country News Reporter (a predecessor to The Record Reporter). That masthead depicted the three dams that comprise the Hells Canyon complex: Brownlee, Oxbow, and Hells Canyon Dam. Turnbull thought it would be fitting to use this same design for a mural that would greet both local residents and visitors to the area.

“We had the idea of using the masthead, but it was in black and white,” said Turnbull. They took the concept to a local artist who designed the prototype for the mural. It was important that the mural was colorful and eye catching.

“We just jazzed it up,” said Turnbull. “We wanted it to pop.”

After putting the full-scale mural project out for bidding, the Community Clinic went through the interview process and selected Linda McMillin, an artist who resides in Lewiston, to create the mural that now adorns the side of the building.

“We hired Linda McMillin to do the mural,” said Turnbull. “Linda has painted several murals including a tunnel under the Capital.” It took McMillin approximately three weeks to complete the mural.

“I thought she did a great job,” he said.

While the Cambridge Community Clinic spearheaded the mural project, it took a lot of community support to ensure that the project came to fruition. Community members, organizations, and local businesses all contributed, either monetarily or through in-kind donations, to the mural’s success. Cambridge Fire and Ambulance washed the wall with a fire truck hose. A local painter primed the wall. This work was done to ensure that McMillin had a clean canvas for the mural’s creation. A clinic board member let McMillin live in their guest house while the mural was being completed.

A paint fund was set up at Cambridge Lumber where residents were able to donate toward the purchase of paint for the mural.

“When it was all done, we donated the leftover paint to the local FFA school shop,” said Turnbull. The mural was completed last fall and joins the water tower as a local landmark.

“It really is the gateway,” said Turnbull. “That’s where Highway 71 starts.” The original Upper Country News Reporter masthead was designed during the construction of the dams. The reconfigured masthead-turned-mural distinguishes Cambridge and firmly establishes its place on the map.

“We’d like to have an open house during Hells Canyon Days,” said Turnbull. “We want to get our name out.”

The Cambridge Community Clinic is still accepting donations for its mural project. Supporters can mail donations to Cambridge Community Clinic, P.O. Box 262, Cambridge, Idaho, 83610. Donations can also be left at Loveland’s General Store. The Clinic can be reached at: (208) 257-3322.