Over the past four years, significant progress has been made in Potosi’s downtown area because of a volunteer project aimed at making our small town functional and vibrant. This is the story of amazing volunteers and their roles in Potosi’s Downtown Revitalization Project.
Four years ago, a survey revealed that downtown Potosi was in urgent need of revitalization. This project was started in 2021 when a volunteer committee was formed, consisting of Sharon Bierman, Shirley Schiffman, Sharon Atkins, Sharon Mathias, Frank Fiorenza, Gary David, Gary Stelpflug, and Larry Kalina. Each of these individuals played a specific role in the project. Shortly after the committee was formed, they collaborated using each member's gifts and talents and got to work.
The committee's first project was to achieve approval from the village board, where they explained that the project was going to be funded by donations. Lots were purchased in downtown Potosi and the committee met with James Snyder, a community development consultant, to get the project into full swing. The lot behind the village hall and library became the location selected as the area for the information kiosk and signage. In 2022, Gary David built a kiosk, which he donated to the project, and Erin Kerkhoff designed the panels for the kiosk. Jason Frederick excavated the rock wall, which was located three feet from the village hall to create approximately twenty feet of additional space for the project. Gary David had a volunteer artist from Dubuque put together murals consisting of historical photos gathered by Alan VanNatta. Jamie Pierce printed the murals and installed them on panels to hang on the wall. The murals depict the rich history of Potosi, including mining, farming, the Potosi Brewery, and the Mississippi River.
In 2023, Rod Meir and his son placed a sidewalk to access the murals. The Potosi High School Environmental Club planted wildflowers, which they plan to maintain every year. In 2024, another sidewalk was placed on North Main Street by Marty Mumm. Currently, the committee is working on finishing the siding on the library wall, including adding a quote by Frank Fierenza. To complete the project, a donor board also plans to be placed.
The Revitalization Project has had over 100 donors and numerous volunteers who played a vital role in the accomplishments and progress of this project. JJ Markus placed a camera at the kiosk to calculate the number of people visiting and found there were approximately 130 to 170 visitors per month. These people were also stopping at many of the businesses in downtown Potosi, including A Little Bit of Anything, Tennyson Treasures, Twisted Vines, and The Hub.
Without the community’s support, this project would have never been successful. Committee Member, Larry Kalina hopes that this project inspires younger generations to volunteer within their community and to use their talents to make a difference. Passionate volunteers who established partnerships, summoned community support, and secured donations and money through fundraising were the keys to the Revitalization Project's success. If you have any free time, consider how you can volunteer within our community. Be sure to check out the downtown businesses and stop by the informational kiosk to learn about the history of the beautiful area we live in.