Taking a walk down memory lane has become much easier on the Iola square. Attached to each light post is a metal sign with photos and information about that particular spot in Iola. Members of the Community Involvement Task Force and Pride conducted the year-long project.
“Our mission statement is to beautify the town and get people interested in the community,” Donna Houser said.
A grant helped fund the project.
A group of seven — Kara Godfrey, Shelia Lampe, Jim Smith, Houser, Mike and Nancy Ford and Judy Brigham — selected photos and information for the signs.
“As you walk down the street the photo matches that area,” Houser said.
Nancy Ford frequently used her wizardry with a computer photo program to fix some of the damaged photos.
Godfrey pulled up a photo of police officers on her computer that had faded and been taped back together. Godfrey said Ford was able to make that photo, and many others, look brand new.
When it was time to decide what information should be put on the sign Godfrey thought less was more.
“People want more of the quirky facts,” she said. “Things that are more of an interest.”
Godfrey said the information isn’t all from the early 1800s. They included places that people today would remember.
Once the photos and text were selected the group had the information transformed into a vinyl format that was then affixed to aluminum templates.
“We had Elizabeth from the Shirt Shop help us place the vinyl reproduction on the signs,” Houser said.
The project became a community effort. The city electric crew helped make the hangers for the signs and other members of the city helped hang the signs.
“I’ve heard a lot of good comments on the signs,” Godfrey said.
There are 16 signs around the square.
