Throughout the early and mid-20th century, Coca-Cola painted 16,000 murals on buildings across the country to advertise its drink. Over time, many of the murals faded away, becoming "ghost-murals."

Now, Coca-Cola Consolidated is working to restore the lost artwork.

Yesterday at 456 High St., one mural was revealed with a ribbon cutting ceremony.

"This is an important part of Coca-Cola’s history," said Lauren Steele from Coca-Cola Consolidated, "but what we really love… is it’s a history of the communities."

The art was originally painted in 1953 on Comuntzi’s Restaurant but was covered when a bank was built next to it. After the bank was torn down, the mural was discovered and added to the list of murals to be restored.

Kay Comuntzi-Getsinger and Annette Houser, two cousins whose family owned Comuntzi’z, attended the ribbon cutting. Both cousins recalled the first mural, and said Coca-Cola was a large part of their lives.

"I remember my dad was a coffee drinker. He didn’t drink Coca-Cola, but I drank Coca-Cola. I would come into the restaurant, and my dad would ask me to taste it… I was the official Coca-Cola taster," Comuntzi-Getsinger said.

Coca-Cola and Comuntzi’s Restaurant were important to more than just those immediately involved with the mural.

Senator Shelley Moore Capito, who cut the ribbon, shared a personal history with the establishment—it was the place where her parents met and where she met her husband.

"There was a sign in the restaurant (that said,) ‘Where dad took his gal,’ and this is where my dad took his gal…," Capito said. "This mural will spruce up the town and make this a landmark so our children and grandchildren can look at that and ask, ‘Now, what is Comuntzi’s, and how did that play into our lives when we were growing up?’"

Joe Statler of the West Virginia House of Delegates also attended the event and reminisced about finding empty Coca-Cola bottles that could be returned for two cents. He would save up until he had enough for a 15 cent bottle of Coca-Cola.

"You didn’t have the pop that you have today, and I’m telling you, that was the greatest delight that you could ever get," Statler said.

Coca-Cola was also an important childhood memory for Paul Kreider, dean of WVU’s College of Creative Arts.

When he was younger, Kreider visited his grandparents in West Virginia every summer and would tag along with his grandfather, a traveling dry goods salesman. Each store they stopped at, Kreider was allowed to get one small bottle of Coca-Cola.

The mural is significant to Kreider since it’s a part of Morgantown’s history and a reminder of his childhood. He thanked Coca-Cola for restoring the artwork and said he’s proud to be involved.

"Everyone can look at this piece of art," Kreider said, "and it means something to them."