Douglas High School Mural Project Paused Amid Unresolved Financial Questions

When Douglas High School was slated for demolition in 2020 to make way for a new campus, a small group of community members stepped forward with a mission: to save a piece of the old school’s history. The result was the Douglas High School Mural Project, an effort to preserve the mural wall, relocate it to the new school grounds, and ensure its story lived on for future generations.

Among the early advocates was David Van Dermark, one of the original organizers who helped rally support and raise funds to preserve the wall before it could be demolished. He worked alongside several dedicated Douglas High School alumni and volunteers, including Capri Moore, Cindy Pruitt Stanton, Betty Botz, and John Botz, who shared a common goal, saving a symbol of community pride.

Following David’s passing, his oldest son, Joseph Ziegler, known to many locally as the founder of The Roseburg Receiver and also an alumnus of Douglas High School, took on his father’s role in the initiative, determined to see the mural completed just as it was envisioned.

“My dad helped start this project to save something that meant a lot to the school and the community,” Ziegler said. “I’m here to make sure we finish what he and others began.”

From the start, the project’s plan was clear: preserve and reinstall the mural wall, add interpretive signage explaining its history, and install solar lighting so it could be visible at night. These finishing touches were part of the plan discussed in meetings, presentations, and emails for years, a vision that reflected both artistry and remembrance.

Today, however, the project is paused as organizers work to resolve financial and administrative concerns. While the mural itself stands complete, progress on the remaining features has been halted until all funding details are fully reviewed and accounted for.

Ziegler emphasized that the pause is not about blame, but about transparency and responsibility to donors and supporters.

“Many people contributed their time, money, and effort to this cause,” he said. “They deserve clarity and the assurance that the project will be finished with integrity.”

Though progress is temporarily on hold, the mural continues to stand as a reminder of what community collaboration can achieve.

“This wall represents the heart of Douglas High School,” Ziegler said. “It’s about pride, legacy, and coming together for something bigger than ourselves. We just want to see it shine - literally and figuratively. We have earlier financial records for the project and have requested updated statements from the nonprofit managing the funds. At this time, those updated records have not been provided, and we’re continuing to seek clarity so donors can have a complete picture of where things stand.”

For those interested in the project’s background, an early presentation from 2022 outlining the mural’s vision can be viewed here: https://tinyurl.com/dhsmuralwall

The full photo album can be found here.

A post will be shared once progress is made toward completing the project.