During that time, Jamestown has become home to nationally renowned cultural institutions and entertainment events. Approximately 25 years ago, initial conversations were held between the city of Jamestown and the Rotary Club of Jamestown about creating such a sign welcoming residents and visitors to the city. In the ensuing years, Rotarians Mike Roberts and Mark Olson with the Rotary Club began working on the idea and investigated various concepts, locations, or designs.

“It takes a community to build a sign, thank you to everyone who played a role in making this a reality. It is a 25-year dream come true,” Roberts said.

The project gained momentum when Jeff Lehman, former city director of public works, proposed an easement agreement to Gary Lynn for a corner of the property located at 1351 N. Main St., at the main entrance to the city from Intersate 86. After the easement agreement was finalized, the city Planning Committee and City Council approved the project in the fall of 2021.

“I’m very excited to see this project come to fruition,” Lehman said. “This has been many years in the making. It was imperative to obtain property on the west side of Main Street. We must thank Gary Lynn, and Lynn Development, for making the property available. I also want to thank the Jamestown Rotary for their patience and funding in making this project possible.”

The new sign at the entrance to Jamestown on North Main Street is pictured.

The Rotary Club of Jamestown celebrated their 100th anniversary in 2019 and had a desire to gift the community an impactful project recognizing the city of Jamestown. The club was in search of a meaningful project when the easement was finalized. Rotary determined this presented an opportunity for a project to assist with community development and betterment of the city while supporting tourism to the area. In the fall of 2019, the club designated The North Main Street Welcome Sign project as their Centennial Project, serving as a symbol of the Rotary Club of Jamestown’s 100 years supporting the local community.

ABOUT THE DESIGN

There were several challenges that needed to be solved to achieve a successful project, including fundraising to financially support the project, creating a design and construction documents, then assembling a team to provide the components and build the sign.

A design group was created consisting of Ellen Shadle, Jeff Lehman, and Dan Stone with the city of Jamestown, Robert Nordin and Brady Morrison with local architect-engineering firm CPL, Kristie Voty with Chautauqua Sign Company, and Mike Roberts, Kevin Sixbey, John Healy and Ruth Lundin with the Rotary Club. The design group worked together throughout 2020 and 2021 to create a unique and distinctive design attempting to capture the essence of the city’s history and building toward the future. The design incorporated both existing local materials as well as fabrication of new components by Ellison Bronze and Industrial Welding & Fabricating. The design goal was to create a one-of-a-kind sign that would be a memorable entrance to the city.

Two 100-year-old metal trusses from a demolished train bridge that spanned the Chadakoin River were connected at the top of the foundation. The trusses honor Jamestown’s industrial and manufacturing past, while giving them a new life and purpose. Stone and a stone cap were installed beneath the trusses sloping down from the top foundation corner to evoke the flowing Chadakoin River or rolling hills of the city. A matte black cabinet with bright lettering was selected so Jamestown would be prominent on the sign. Paneling above the cabinet was designed to illustrate the city skyline. Old city street bricks were installed as pavers around the base of the sign.

THE PROJECT

With a clear design determined, a budget was established to realize the costs required to construct the sign. Fundraising for Rotary’s Centennial project initially began in 2019 under Past President Katie Giese’s leadership at the 100 Year Gala Celebration and momentum increased in 2022 after the initial rendering was created by CPL. Past President Kevin Sixbey led the fundraising efforts, totaling $63,200 for the fabrication, assembly, and construction of the sign. The Rotary Club donated $25,200 while the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation, Gebbie Foundation, Sheldon Foundation, Sheldon Directors Discretionary Grant Fund Peter B. Sullivan, Jessie Smith Darrah Fund, and Allied Alarm graciously awarded grants and donations totaling $38,000. Rotary is grateful for the generosity of the local foundations who financially supported the project and all the work they do in our community. We would not have been able to fund the project without the foundations support.

Rotary invited ten local companies to participate, each fulfilling a critical work function and who gladly supported the project. In an effort to support Rotary and the project, the local organizations either donated their goods and services entirely, worked at cost, or requested only reimbursement for expensive materials. CPL donated the design services and consulting. R. Patti Concrete & Excavating donated the site preparation and excavation. JMI donated the concrete, sand, and gravel. E.E. Austin & Son was the General Contractor responsible for pouring the concrete foundation, rebar, and assembly of the sign components. Sivak Stonemasonry donated the labor to install the stone and brick pavers. Ellison Bronze fabricated and donated the City Scape Panels. Industrial Welding & Fabricating provided the steel cabinet, steel columns, and structural support. Chautauqua Sign Company provided design creativity while establishing and installing the lettering for the sign. Rotarian David Painter with Ahlstrom Schaeffer Electric donated the electrical infrastructure with Gleason Enterprises providing the electrical inspections. Jamestown DPW cleared the site, donated the old train trusses and city street bricks, and provided final restoration and plantings.

Current Rotary President John Healy utilized his construction experience to manage the project as it progressed from fundraising to design and then construction. Planning, coordinating, and engineering meetings were held in the Spring and Summer of 2022 to verify that the various sign components would be constructed and fit properly, with fabricating and manufacturing beginning soon after. Ground was broken in the Fall of 2022 by R. Patti Concrete & Excavating. EE Austin completed the foundation, rebar, and concrete foundation walls by the end of October 2022. The various sign components and steel support were fabricated by the Spring of 2023 with Chautauqua Sign attaching the lettering to the cabinet in earlier May. EE Austin then proceeded with the assembling of the various sign components, Sivak Stonemasonry installed the stone and pavers, with Ahlstrom Schaeffer finishing the lights by June 2023. The Ribbon Cutting Ceremony was held Friday, June 23rd. City of Jamestown Principal Planner Ellen Shadle says, “I am over the moon that this project was provided the support it needed to be realized. This gateway sign is a salutation to travelers of all kinds to express our community pride and invite them to join us for a journey through history, hope, and hospitality. Thank you, Jamestown Rotary for stepping forward to bring this vision to life.”

Rotary knows the sign will be a meaningful asset to the city and extends their heartfelt thanks and sincere gratitude to the City of Jamestown and all the local foundations, organizations, and people who participated in making this project a success. It was a complex and challenging project that required the expertise of everyone involved. Rotary could not have been successful without the generosity of those who gave their time, talents, resources, and financial support to the project. Jamestown Mayor Eddie Sundquist notes, “First impressions are incredibly important and the design of the new Jamestown gateway sign makes for an inviting entrance into the city. With many design elements that touch on the proud history of Jamestown, I thank the Jamestown Rotary for investing in a beautiful new entrance sign into the city. This sign, along with a new sidewalk that accompanies it, helps to show that revitalization is possible when we come together to collaborate with community organizations and residents, and reflects the hard work of many who make Jamestown great.”