The City of Carthage, Mo., on Friday unveiled a new welcome sign that features a Route 66 shield and a symbol of the city, a maple leaf, according to a news release from the city.
Local artist Rachel Wilson designed the sign, which is on the Carthage Memorial Hall lawn at 407 S. Garrison St. (aka Route 66).
While the gray stone is recognizable as the famous Carthage limestone that graces so many buildings here and across Missouri, the Maple Leaf is made of sterner stuff.
“We started with three different mediums,” Wilson said. “First we tried concrete, then some other products that are like fiberglass. This is a two-part hard epoxy product, it’s weather-proof and stable regardless of the weather.” […]
The stone for the monument was provided by Locarni Marble and the words were engraved by West Chestnut Monuments, which also helped the Carthage Parks Department and Carthage Public Works Department install the stone. Landscaping is courtesy Pinewood Nursery.
The sign differs slightly from the original sketched design. According to an earlier report in February, the city approved spending $11,500 for the sign.
(Photo via the City of Carthage)
My son, a student at Drury, is working on something architectural for Carthage at present. Visiting the city is one of my goals this fall.