Sesquicentennial Committee To Place Plaques On Downtown Buildings

(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Sesquicentennial Committee and the Le Mars Historic Preservation Commission during the 2019 Sesquicentennial Celebration created and installed window clings on many of the downtown businesses that show an early look of the building. The pictures generated positive comments and, for
many, brought back fond memories of time spent in downtown Le Mars.

Rich Ziettlow, one of the Sesquicentennial committee chair persons says the committee now would like to install a permanent aluminum plaque marker on the downtown buildings that is similar to the photographs. He talks about how
the idea came about.

Utilizing surplus funds from the Le Mars Sesquicentennial, the
Sesquicentennial Committee has created a permanent historic marker that incorporates the early building image with a short historical statement.
Ziettlow says there is no cost to the property owners and their participation is entirely optional. The project is funded through monies generated by the Sesquicentennial Celebration events.

A letter was recently mailed to each property owner with information about the project and a request for their participation.

Ziettlow says the marker is printed on an aluminum plaque that measures 12” wide and 18” tall. It is designed to be mounted on a front, exterior wall with four mounting screws. Installation will be performed by the City maintenance crew and project volunteers. Each property owner will have input on the final location of the marker. The Sesquicentennial committee co-
chairman says they hope to have all plaques installed by the upcoming Ice Cream Days celebration.