Southbury officially honored the legacy of David K. Merrill, the artist behind Town Hall’s beloved seasonal mural, presenting his family with a proclamation last week.
Cindy McPhee and David Merrill Jr. recently visited Town Hall to accept the proclamation and speak briefly about their father and his art.
Merrill was a long-time Southbury resident and renowned artist. He passed away on July 5, 2026.
His large-scale mural, depicting 42 scenes of Southbury through the seasons and located in the stairwell between the first and second floors of Town Hall, has welcomed visitors and residents since 1978.
Merrill’s legacy extended far beyond Southbury. In addition to the Southbury Town Hall mural, he created large-scale public works at the Lutheran Home of Southbury, Edmond Town Hall in Newtown, and the Edith Wheeler Memorial Library in Monroe. His paintings can also be found in thousands of private collections, museums, municipalities, and historical societies throughout the country and the world.
Merrill will be remembered for his kindness, generosity and endless creative talent. In 2023, he was honored with the original Lifetime Achievement Award during Southbury’s 350th Anniversary celebration. The following year, the award was formally established and named the David K. Merrill Lifetime Achievement in the Arts Award in recognition of his lifelong contributions to the arts.
At the Board of Selectmen’s July 16 meeting, the board voted to fund a plaque in his honor near the mural located within Town Hall.
The Southbury Record 