Flowers, mural add charm to business area

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September 18, 2006

BY DANA SCHAUMBURG The Commercial-News Mon Sep 18, 2006, 10:00 AM CDT

HOOPESTON — Alice Russell wants people to come to downtown Hoopeston to see the flowers blooming, facades changing and renovations happening.

Russell serves as chairwoman of the open spaces committee. The committee is part of the beautification program the city started in February.

“Our beautification program has received excellent response,” she said, adding that work continues through the fall to change out the summer flowers and put in fall mums.

Other work to be done includes adding two pergolas and raised planting beds to a lot on the northeast side of the downtown area.

“We wanted our businesses to have a place to get out,” Russell said, explaining people can use the space for outdoor meetings.

Across the street, Rotary Park already shows the work volunteers have done. They added trellises and benches along with flowers.

“This started out as nothing, just a bare lot,” Russell said.

Now local groups use the space for special events. And a Christmas tree will sit in the park this winter.

As residents and visitors walk down the block on the south side of Main Street, they also can see some vacant windows now filled with Hoopeston memorabilia.

Old pictures of the city fill one window.

“Some of the buildings are gone,” resident Pat Fraley said, adding that others have changed a lot over the years.

Fraley, who serves as chairperson of the windows, murals and displays committee, put up the new display, and she looks for other old photographs to put in the window.

“I notice people coming and looking at it as I drive by,” she said. “It’s history, and it draws people in.”

Other storefronts feature Cornjerker apparel, old farming tools, history of the National Sweetheart Pageant and National Sweetcorn Festival along with other interesting items.

On the north side of Main Street, a new awning and façade adorn the Sewing Boutique, and Deano’s on Main boasts new ownership.

A mural covers the wall on the side of Rod’s Home and Auto. The barn scene emphasizes the history of being a rural community.

Owner Rod Gaddis gets comments all the time about the new mural that volunteers painted.

Gaddis has done business downtown for 11 years and thinks customers can get in and out easier along with getting their questions answered in the downtown business atmosphere.

“We take personal time,” he said.

NAPA also will move into the former Dollar General building by the end of the month.

“They’ve been here working on this building,” Mayor Bill DeWitt said.

All of the changes show the downtown area is moving forward, and Russell is glad to be a part of it.

“I feel great,” she said, adding she wants people to come to the area and feel comfortable and want to stay.

“When they come down here, they can come to L&M; for lunch. There’s other things they can do here,” Russell added.

DeWitt’s wife, Claudia, chairs the beautification committee and is happy with the 40 volunteers working on this year’s projects. Work at McFerren Park and in residential areas also shows what volunteers did throughout the city.

“For a first-year effort, I’m pleased,” DeWitt said, adding she hopes to continue to grow next year as they learn from their experiences.

FYI

For more information on the beautification program and other downtown improvements, call Claudia DeWitt at 283-7161.

Anyone with pictures may call Pat Fraley at 283-7246. Anyone with plants to donate may call Alice Russell at 304-8228 or the municipal building at 283-5320.

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