Allen Fair

Harmer’s Town Art Center and the Graw Alley mural park began with the vision of one person, Allen J. Fair. A proud resident of Havre de Grace for more than 80 years and a successful businessman, he knew that he wanted to leave a legacy that would celebrate the history of the City, the upper Chesapeake Bay and look to a future that highlighted the creation and appreciation of the creative arts. The murals that visitors can see in Graw Alley depict a wide range of significant historical events, as well as vignettes of how life was lived in the City and surrounding region for the past 400 years.

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Mr. Fair’s personal touch is clearly seen in the murals that involve horse racing at the Graw. Both of his parents were employed there, and from a very early age, Allen was there too, hot-walking thoroughbreds, selling ice cream from a cart, and placing bets for clubhouse workers who could not leave their posts.

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Working with artist Ezra Burger, Mr. Fair conceptualized each mural, based in many cases on direct personal experience going back to the 1930’s. Painted on the walls of buildings owned by Mr. Fair, which he has donated to Harmer’s Town Art Center, the murals make Graw Alley a unique gift to the people of Havre de Grace.