Winneshiek County Historical Society gets statewide award

(Left to right): LaVonne Sharp, Ed Epperly, Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds, Elizabeth Lorentzen, Ferneva Brimacomb, and Governor Terry Branstad.

The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs has given a community history
award to the Winneshiek County Historical Society in recognition of the local historic trails project, "A Walk into the Past."

Winneshiek County Historical Society president Ferneva Brimacomb and secretary LaVonne Sharp and project leaders Ed Epperly and Elizabeth Lorentzen received the "Loren Horton Certificate of Recognition" from Governor Terry Branstad in ceremonies in the governor's private office at the Capitol.

The Decorah historic trails project was lead by retired Luther professor Ed Epperly and retired Decorah High School teacher Elixabeth Lorentzen, with the Winneshiek County Historical Society acting as the fiscal agent for the project.

Lorentzen and Epperly raised funds for the trails project, researched and wrote the text for 30 signs and four kiosks, and compiled vintage photos and artifacts to recount the story of Decorah, its history, inhabitants, and architecture for the signs. They were assisted in research by LaVonne Sharp and others of the Winneshiek County Historical Society, Midge Kjome of the Decorah Genealogy Association and local residents.

Vintage photos were also secured to illustrate the sign texts from those organizations as well as Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum, Porter House Museum, the Luther College Photo Archive, and local residents. Deb Paulson of Zelda Productions was the graphic designer for the signs.

A map brochure of the two historic trails routes may be obtained from the Decorah Convention and Visitors Bureau in downtown Decorah to assist those interested in exploring the trails.