By Kristine Kern
Review Staff Writer
A piece of Lismore history is back home where it belongs. After 23 years, the original Lismore Legion sign is back and once again standing proudly in front of the American Legion building.
The metal sign was put up when the Legion building was built in 1949. For forty years it stood sentry above the entrance to the Lismore Legion building. When the building underwent a major remodel in 1994 the sign was taken down. Legion member Veryl Stoffel (commander at that time) brought the sign to Pioneer Village in Worthington, as a historical piece for display. It was kept in storage at Pioneer Village for several years because it did not fit into the time period of the village before the Worthington Legion gave it a new home in front of their building. The sign welcomed visitors and members alike until the building closed in the early 2000’s. The sign found itself once again in storage at Pioneer Village.
Lismore Sons of the American Legion member Marty Krogman began a search for the sign in early 2015 and tracked it down to the Pioneer Village and contacted the Nobles County Historical Society requesting it be returned to the Lismore Legion. The Collections Committee of the Historical Society elected to give the sign back to the Lismore Legion so it could once again go on display rather than keep it in storage. Legion member Chuck Hoffman went to Pioneer Village and brought the sign back last fall. The sign was showing it’s age. There was some tin damage and repainting was needed. Doug Loosbrock (B&L Construction) volunteered to take on the tin work and his wife Laura (Snapshot Graphics), offered to repaint the sign.
Cement work was started this past spring, posts were put in, and electrical work was done so that the sign would be lit around the clock. Most of the work was done not only by Legion family members, but by the community itself. This was truly a labor of love by the town’s residents. After many hours of renovation, the sign was finished and put up in May.
The refurbished sign now stands shiny and proud in it’s rightful place – in front of Lismore’s American Legion building. Lismore Legion Treasurer and Membership Director, Veryl Stoffel, comments “it is a pleasure to work with so many volunteers who accomplish so much for the Legion.” Darwin Veld, Legion Commander, also commented saying, “It is nice to have our own local historical sign back where it belongs, honoring both past and present members.
Thanks to many volunteer hours, the original Lismore American Legion sign is now where it belongs, once more a tribute to those who have served this great nation. God Bless America!!
