Moestchen and Main Street collaborate on mural project

     In September 2022, members of the Monticello community came together for a public work session to hear all about Main Street Iowa and Main Street Monticello.

   A young Scout working toward her Eagle Scout Award was in attendance at that Main Street event, wanting to share her Eagle project idea with the group.

   “I wanted to see what Main Street was all about,” said Lily Moestchen, a sophomore at Monticello High School, “if this was the right place to present my idea.”

   Moestchen wants to have a mural painted in Monticello to welcome visitors to town and add a pop of color to the downtown and Main Street Monticello district.

   Through Main Street’s presentations and surveys, the public noted they also wanted to see some color added in.

   With Main Street on board to help Moestchen, the Design Pillar was assigned to the project. (Main Street Iowa maintains four pillars/areas of focus: Design, Economic Vitality, Organization, Promotion, and Design.) Those on the Design Pillar include Abby Manternach, Judy Tuetken, Main Street Director Brian Wolken, and Parks and Rec Director Jacob Oswald.

   Moestchen’s idea for the mural is to highlight the history of Monticello and recreational activities: education, Mon Maq Dam, the airport, the Maquoketa River, the fair and agriculture, the library, churches, Riverside Gardens, industry, and organizations, just to name a few.

   The word “Monticello” would be painted on the side of a building, with each letter representing a different sector of the community. It would look like a giant, life-sized postcard.

   With an idea in mind, Moestchen needed a building. Kirk Freese, who works at Freese Motors in Monticello is very active in and supports the Scouts. He suggested Moestchen look into the Freese building across from the post office, adjacent to the city parking lot.

   After talking with Brad Freese, owner of Freese Motors, Moestchen said she has verbal permission to proceed with her mural project as if it will be painted on the side of the Freese building.

   “It’s a plain, white wall,” Moestchen said of the building and wanting to spruce it up.

   Ideally, the mural would cover 1,952 square feet.

   With any Eagle Scout project, the Scout facilitates his/her project, lining up the volunteers and people to carry it out. In this case, Moestchen is working on securing artists to paint the letters, as well as the funds to make it happen. Once the mural is complete, Main Street Monticello will serve as the beneficiary and provide future maintenance of the mural.

   Wolken said a project like this fits within Main Street’s parameters, as well as within the city’s goals of being a welcoming and inviting town.

   “People travel to see murals like this,” Wolken added, noting the many murals painted in downtown Dubuque. “They draw tourists.”

   While Moestchen wanted to have her Eagle project completed this summer, she and the Main Street group realized more time to needed to sell the idea to the community and raise the needed funds. The building also needs to be prepped and cleaned. Her new goal is to complete her project before her 18^th birthday.

   Manternach said having a year to work on the mural project will also allow for more grants, too.

   Moestchen estimates she needs to raise $14,000.

   There are two ways the community can donate toward the project. Donations are being accepted at Fidelity Bank & Trust under “Lillian Moestchen – Eagle Project” or through Venmo @Lily- Moestchen.

   With a similar-looking mural in downtown Anamosa, Moestchen has been in contact with Anamosa business owner and artist KC Wortman to find some artists to be a part of the project. She said Wortman has also pointed her toward some grant opportunities as well.

   “We’re (Main Street) is helping to put own spin on things,” said Manternach. “We’re a resource for her. Lily will have final approval.”

   Wolken said this project has also pushed Main Street and the city to work on developing a set of broad guidelines for future murals that might pop up in Monticello.

   “We don’t want to restrict any artists,” he said.

   Cleaning and sprucing up buildings, Wolken explained, only encourages the next building/business owner to do the same; a domino effect.

   Moestchen said while she had several small Eagle Scout project ideas, this mural would really make an impact in the community.

   “I wanted something big that people would see,” she said.

   “It’s a statement piece,” added Manternach.

   “This will be a place-maker in our downtown,” Wolken said of having a spot, much like the pocket park, where people spend time. “It’ll draw attention to the space, draw people in, and it’s an easy walk in the downtown.

   “We’re excited to be a part of the process,” he added.