THE STUNNING HISTORIC MURAL GRACED THE OLD VERIZON BUILDING IN BOSTON'S FINANCIAL DISTRICT FOR MORE THAN A HALF-CENTURY, A GRAND TOWERING ILLUSTRATION THAT PAID HOMAGE TO THE MEN AND WOMAN WHO TOILED AS TELEPHONE OPERATORS, CONNECTING DISTANT RELATIVES AND DEAR, OLD FRIENDS. BUT VERIZON SOLD THE BUILDING LAST YEAR AND QUIETLY REMOVED THE MURAL DURING THE SUMMER AS PART OF THE SALES AGREEMENT. THE REMOVAL HAS TRIGGERED A STORM OF PROTEST AMONG LOCAL PRESERVATIONIST, WHO WORRY ABOUT THE LOSS OF A SIGNIFICANT PIECE OF NEW ENGLAND HISTORY, AS WELL AS THE FUTURE OF THE ART DECO BUILDING WHERE IT LONG RESIDED. "WE ARE OUTRAGED ABOUT THE REMOVAL', SAID TONY FUSCO, PRESIDENT OF THE ART DECO SOCIETY OF BOSTON. "THIS IS UNDOUBTEDLY THE MOST IMPORTANT MURAL OF ITS KIND IN BOSTON." FUSCO SAID THE REMOVAL IS TANTAMOUNT TO STRIPPING THE MURALS OUT OF ROCKEFELLER CENTER IN NEW YORK OR THE BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY. VERIZON SAID IT REMOVED THE MURAL AT THE REQUEST OF THE NEW OWNER, COMMONWEALTH VENTURES, A CONNECTICUT-BASED COMPANY THAT WANTS TO RENOVATE THE INTERIOR OF THE BUILDING, INCLUDING THE LOBBY, WHERE THE MURAL WAS LOCATED. A SPOKESPERSON FOR VERIZON SAID THAT THE COMPANY RECOGNIZED THE HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE MURAL AND HIRED A SPECIALIST TO CAREFULLY REMOVE IT. VERIZON HAS CONSULTED WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM SEVERAL MUSEUMS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS BOSTON, IN HOPES TO DONATE THE ARTWORK SOMEDAY, THE SPOKESPERSON ADDED -- THE MURAL IS NOW IN STORAGE, ITS DESTINATION UNKNOWN.
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