By Iola-Scandinavia Chamber
In the late summer of 2022, the Kriewaldt family started the process of reclaiming the land that for many decades served as George Kriewaldt’s auto and salvage operation. The early stages of that cleanup included hauling more than 100 old vehicles out of the wooded area that had served as the impound lot. Seeing these relics all lined up not far from the highway sparked a particular thought from active local Marie Skowen that has now come to fruition nearly two years later.
Marie reached out to Joe Opperman from the Iola Car Show, sharing her idea. For years, Marie and friend Kate Korb have been involved in planting and maintaining the flowers at the village sign located at the intersection of Hwy 161 and Hwy 49 just west of the Premier Community Bank. She thought it would be neat if one of the old trucks she saw parked outside could be incorporated with the flowers and the sign. Joe loved the idea, and it wasn’t long before a team was coming together.
The idea was shared with the Kriewaldts, and they were immediately interested in supporting the concept and volunteering to donate the vehicle for this cause. A truck was selected and set aside for its destined purpose. Iola Car Show staff member Ali Johnson was tasked with the design and asked to find a way to blend the look of the old structure, truck, and covering with new signage that looked like it fit. Several renditions of the signage were made before the final version, with input from staff and community members in the process.
The Community Development Association got behind the project and enlisted young and talented local Melum Masonry to complete the decorative concrete, and the results are outstanding. Additional support from the car show team helped complete the preparation and installation before Marie and Kate could get to the serious business of planting the flowers in the custom beds. Matt Marquardt painted the “Village of Iola” artistically on the side, and also had a few more tricks up his sleeve for some very custom and appropriately themed flowers to be installed and changed out seasonally. Jim Payton, Earl Lederhaus, and Hayden Nelson helped to install the signage, position the truck, and re-seed with new grass.
A very happy Marie and Kate planted flowers just in time for Memorial Day, when the sign was first seen by the public. Overall, the sign will serve as a creative example of community members working as a team to make a positive impact on the community. The school district has expressed interest in involving students in future projects, and the High School welding class has already experimented with some art deco similar to the flowers incorporated in this project, thanks to support from the Kriewaldt family.
Funding for the project came from the Community Development Association, Iola Old Car Show, Inc., and donation from the Kriewaldt Family. The signage was produced by Finishing Touch Signs of Wausau, Wisconsin, and Melum Masonry of Iola did the decorative concrete.