Historic signs to be put up in downtown Decorah

This map shows the proposed locations of the historic signs (Click on photo for larger image)

The Decorah City Council has given its blessing to a project to install up to 20 historic signs in downtown Decorah and along the Decorah Historic District.

The project is the idea of Decorah resident Ed Epperly, who saw similar signs on a recent trip to Natchez, Mississippi.  Decorah resident Elizabeth Lorentzen has begun helping Epperly with the project.  The two have raised $8,350 in donations and pledges so far.

The signs would mark two trails--one starting at the College Drive Bridge and heading east to the former Decorah train depot on Water Street and another starting at the County Courthouse and heading west on Broadway and Upper Broadway.

Epperly says each sign would have a historic photo of the buildings at that location, along with some text explaining the history of the buildings.  Each sign would cost roughly $1,00, but would have a vandalism-resistant finish and would be mounted on posts.  Tourists could look at each picture to get an idea of what Epperly calls "the 19th century flavor" of downtown Decorah.

No city funding has been requested for the project, although the city will contribute to the project by handling the installation of each sign.

Epperly and Lorentzen will work with the City Street Department and with the Decorah Historic Preservation Commission on the details of the project.