Community volunteers in Mount Angel rebuilt a local landmark in time for Oktoberfest visitors.
The Visitor Information Kiosk owned by the Mt. Angel Chamber of Commerce and located on Main Street by West College Street had been significantly damaged during an ice storm in January.
The fixture was already in need of new paint and minor repairs since being built by volunteers in 2010. The added weight of ice from the storm damaged the wooden roof.
Jim Kosel, with the Mt. Angel American Legion Post 89 and a member of the chamber board, said community members jumped into action, from local contractors and business owners to area students.
“[Volunteers] came together pretty soon after the storm,” said Kosel.
Josh Vera of Vera Construction Inc. rebuilt the lower portion of the sign where a display case holds information about local history, businesses and events. Vera also poured a new concrete foundation and donated new asphalt shingles, which are expected to outlast the previous shingles.
Meanwhile Bochsler True Value Hardware donated paint for the project, including floral decorations on the sides. Then students at John F. Kennedy High School built the new sign for the top, which was installed at the close of the project on July 1.
Kosel said many other community supporters contributed to the new kiosk, including members of the American Legion. He said he hopes this updated fixture will “last a few years.”
Kosel said this type of volunteer teamwork is what he has come to expect from the Mount Angel community.
“The materials and people involved were all volunteers,” he said. “That’s part of Mount Angel.”
– Stephen Floyd
