The Valley Central Building and Loan Co. on West Benson Street in Reading was once the home to a mural of the pictorial history of Reading Ohio. It was a large mural created by Cincinnati artist, Dan Acitio, and it measured a whopping 6 feet in height and 32 feet in length. It consisted of several panels depicting significant events in the history of Reading, including the search of the Mt. Notre Dame campus of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur by Morgan’s Raiders.
Confederate General John Hunt Morgan made Civil War history when he and his calvary troops crossed into Indiana and Ohio destroying property, pillaging supplies and stealing horses, earning them their moniker, “Raiders”. Looking for fresh horses, the Raiders came upon the Mt. Notre Dame campus and according to the Annals (1860-1870):
'“Morgan’s Raid" in the spring of the next year was the climax of excitement during the war period, The Sisters heard that a band of his soldiers was passing through the neighboring woods, seizing all the horses and cattle that came in their way. The Mountain's faithful workmen hid the Sisters horses in the washhouse, covering the floor with sawdust to prevent the pawing of their hoofs from being heard. But it was not so easy to control their neighing and it is a wonder that their hiding place was not discovered, Morgan's men searched the stable, and on finding it empty made their way down the hill to the great relief of the community."
The Reading History panel depicting this can be seen from this sketch of a portion of the mural. Unfortunately, when the mural was taken down from the wall, the canvas was torn.
Valley Central took pictures of the mural before is was taken down and had parts of it reproduced. Those and mural remnants now hang along the downstairs steps, including this picture of the Sister of Notre Dame and a Morgan Raider. (Courtesty of Allan Rettberg, Reading Historical Society).