The pillars recently installed in the decorative planters around Jefferson’s downtown square are the result of a unique partnership between Jefferson Matters: A Main Street and Chamber Community’s design team and local students.
The design team continues to beautify the downtown by filling the planters every season. Originally, there was no center support in the planters. The design team realized they needed something to anchor the fresh evergreen, berries, and pinecones for the winter season – a permanent center support that was also decorative.
They put their heads together and explained their idea to Roger Aegerter, local artist and craftsman. Aegerter built a prototype and Jefferson city administrator Mike Palmer put the design team in contact with Greene County High School staff for help in making the pillars.
Design team member Jeanne Myers coordinated the project, working with Aegerter and Josh Carlson, industrial technology and auto CAD instructor at the high school, who in turn involved Kyle Harding, Iowa Central Community College welding instructor at the Greene County Career Academy.
Carlson made this project part of his students’ curriculum, having them design plans for the final product. The design team wanted the finials on the decorative supports to match those on the fence at Thomas Jefferson Gardens. Carlson located a company from whom he ordered the finials, which were then attached to the supports.
Welding students from CGHS and the Career Academy ordered the steel, cut the steel, and welded the pillars. Harding assisted Carlson with completing this part of the process. Once the pillars were ready, Harding took them to New Way, where he also works, and had the them painted. The pillars were finished before the summer flowers were removed from the planters.
Once the planters were totally clean this fall, 2012 GCHS graduate Kurtis Rice of Welding Innovations welded the pillars into the planters. “Kurtis is a shining example of the results of an education in the local high school’s career and technical education strand,” a school spokesperson said. “Kurtis took Dan Benitz’s welding class and placed first at state in welding at SkillsUSA and then placed third at nationals while still in high school. Kurtis attended Iowa Central Community College and once again won at state for welding and competed at nationals. Kurtis and his dad, Kelly Rice, run Welding Innovations northwest of Jefferson.”
Rice used his portable welder to permanently install the decorative supports into the planters, which were immediately filled with fall silk flowers, pumpkins, and gourds, thanks to the design team and many community volunteers.
“Main Street Iowa, a program of the Iowa Economic Development Authority, encourages their teams to get local youth involved in what they do. This project is an example of how that can be successful and benefit both our local community and visitors who come to Jefferson. Our downtown looks so nice because of projects like this and now a lot of our current and former students can take pride in knowing they were key in making the pillar centerpieces happen,” a design team spokesperson said.
