Seth Mendell stood in front of a full crowd at the podium in the Meeting House, now the Mattapoisett Historical Society museum. The pews were filled. The balcony was crammed with people. Though everyone was listening to Mendell their eyes were fixated on the 6 by 16 foot mural hanging behind him.

The Clifford Ashley mural, donated by Mrs. Polly Duff Phipps of Mattapoisett, depicts the Southcoast to Cape Cod and includes the islands of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. Ashley was a prominent painter in the early 20th century and is also known for authoring the “Ashley Book of Knots.” The mural, or chart, was completed in 1919 and is called “A Chart of the Whale Coast of New England, c. 1810.” It remained in the house at 20 Water Street for 90 years, surviving even the 1938 hurricane.

“This chart is gigantic.” Mendell, the Historical Society and museum president, said. “But it tells the whole story of all the towns and their industries. The details and characteristics of each town’s history with oil and ships, it’s all there.”

After Mendell spoke David Duff spoke on behalf of the Duff family. He shared stories of growing up with the mural playing ping-pong with his dad under it and learning of its history. Duff said his father wanted the mural to move to a museum after his passing.

“It’s just too perfect that the mural is now here,” Duff said. “Look how closely it fits!”

The Duff family was also presented with eight miniaturized murals. Four more miniatures were auctioned off to help with project costs.

After a long and costly restoration process, Mendell added he couldn’t be happier with how well the piece had been preserved. He said hundreds of donors and volunteers made it possible.

“It’s painted by a local artist,” he said. “Stayed in a local home. And now it’s here. We can continue its story.”

Books depicted close-ups from the mural are to be printed as well. Ashley created characters and images for each town, and Mendell said these books would be made available soon.

“It will tell the story of Ashley’s characters,” he said. “And we’ll have one humdinger of a book.”