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Someone returned missing Howard Garrison painting to Riverside Innby Paula Morehouse, KY3 News
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UPDATE: The owners of Riverside Inn say someone dropped off a stolen Howard Garrison painting (minus the frame ) outside the Riverside Inn during the night. They found it Wednesday morning. The Engels say they don't know if the person who dropped off the painting was a "little old lady" as a previous news release says.
---- OZARK, Mo. -- It's not flooding that is victimizing the historic Riverside Inn this time; it's thieves. Since the early 1920s, the Inn's famous chicken has been flying from the fryer to the tabletop. In a few days one of the most popular dishes, along with everything else in the restaurant, will merely be a memory to those who worked and ate along the banks of the Finley River. "I try not to do the countdown because it's too sad but Saturday is our last day," said Riverside Inn co-owner Lisa Engel. After 86 years, the Inn is closing for good. When the restaurant shuts its doors after Saturday night, most of the paintings will go on the auction block on Dec. 19, except for one that was tucked behind the piano; someone swiped it. The painting disappeared sometime between late Sunday night and early Tuesday morning. "The View from the Jail in Ava," was the work of the Riverside Inn's founder and original owner Howard Garrison. During prohibition, his restaurant became a noted speakeasy. Garrison spent time in that very jail during this period for, as he put it, "giving the people what they wanted." "He looked outside the jail cell. He painted that from memory of what he looked out of the jail cell," Engel said. Garrison was a prolific painter. In fact, most of the murals adorning the Inn's walls are his work and so are most of the paintings. Engel said Garrison's art is sought after not only because it's steeped in Ozark history and heritage but also because it's becoming harder to find. As for who took the jail painting, Engel said she doesn't have a clue other than the culprits knew exactly what they wanted. "They specifically targeted that one because they didn't take anything else, they just got that. We just have knots in our stomach because I just can't believe somebody would come in and take one," said Engel. Engel said the painting was worth about $3,000, according to a recent appraisal. The owners sold the business after battling too many floods; the restaurant has flooded five times in the past two years. Christian County bought the eatery after receiving a FEMA grant to demolish the restaurant. The auction is 10 a.m. on Dec. 19 at the restaurant. Most Viewed
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