New sign for Weyauwega mural

There is one less thing on the Weyauwega Area Historical Society’s things-to-do list.

On Monday, May 20 they hosted a dedication for a new sign at Weyauwega’s iconic silo in Petersen Park. A group of seventh graders attended and learned about local history.

Brad Leonhardt installed the sign that is an interpretive guide to the symbolic images on the silo. Each one has some meaning or is a reference for something in the past.

For local residents who are familiar with the images on the silo, it’s a game of recollection; for visitors or youth, it’s a key to understanding what the images on the silo are all about.

Meanwhile as the sign was getting produced, local artist Amanda Wilz was hard at work. She was commissioned by Hutchinson Insurance to produce a mural of local images. Earlier this spring, Hutchinson Insurance and Premier Bank held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to reopen their newly remodeled lobby and office space.

James Card Photo

Inside of Premier Bank are two wall-sized black-and-white photos of local scenes – one an aerial view of Lake Weyauwega and another of a boy fishing on those waters. They add some hometown charm to the bank’s interior.

Over on the Hutchinson side of the office space, they were left with a large blank wall.

“We just had this huge wall and I was thinking what are we going to do here? I knew she has done murals in the past. I thought why not put what’s on that mural, here. We’ve got a lot of space. They used the artwork of Rebecca Hess. They hired a guy to paint it using a lift and he changed it up some and Amanda changed it up a little more,” said Ryan Hutchinson.

Also included in the mural is the Hutchinson Hotel (the historic building on the corner of Main and Mill streets).

“My great-grandfather built it in 1899. He’s the same guy that started Hutchinson Insurance,” said Hutchinson.

Back to the Weyauwega Area Historical Society’s things-to-do list, one of their goals is to get the silo repainted. The topic was previously addressed during a meeting a city council. The colors are weathered and sun-faded and could use some touching up.

Their next get-together will be on Thursday, June 6, to visit the Wild Rose Historical Village. They will meet at city hall at 9:30 a.m.