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Silhouettes on the
Mattes Building
Written by B. Horak from a phone interview
with Rose Schultz, January 27, 2002
The north side of the "Mattes Building" on
Second Street - photo by Charles Hanson
Downtown Odebolt has a new look. Silhouetted
heads of an audience watching shadowy dancers gliding past windows,
complete with a singer and musicians, now grace the second story windows
of the Mattes Building on the southwest corner of Main and 2nd Streets. It is reminiscent of the days
when the upper story was the I.O.O.F. Hall* and used as a dance hall. The
silhouettes were the inspiration of Rose Schultz of Odebolt.
The story started some months ago when Rose and Joyce Curtis
organized a “Paint Party” with the aim of improving the looks of some
unused buildings in downtown Odebolt.
For two consecutive weekends about 23 students, 9 adults and family
volunteers had a painting party. Other
volunteers brought food and drinks for the paint crews. Les Fertig, of Fertig Electric,
generously donated the use of his boom truck to reach upper levels of the
buildings, as well as helping with days of painting. The local lumberyard, Odebolt
Lumber, donated paint and gave discounts to the project. Supplies were purchased with the
help of monetary donations from the community. The intention of the project was
not only to improve the looks of the town, but also to add to Odebolt’s
economy by buying locally
As the painting was completed, curtains were placed in empty
windows.. The overall effect
was as if the downtown had been given an overnight “facelift”. It looked great!
But Schultz was not yet satisfied.
She had consulted with Shirley Phillips of Sac County Tourism and
Development (SETD), who had told her what shade of gray to paint the
boarded up windows to make them look most like glass windows, but to
Schultz, it didn’t look quite right.
That is when she got the idea to do the silhouettes, a project that
started in October, and culminated January 21st when they were placed in
the windows
Vance Lundell of Lundell Plastics donated the black plastic
sheets for the new project. Schultz
found patterns for the silhouettes on the Internet and used the school
overhead projector to trace around them onto the plastic sheets. She and her dad, Don Bengford, cut
them out with a skill saw. Les Fertig and the Fertig Electric boom
truck were put to use again to place them on the upper story windows. The result is a delightful and
whimsical view as you drive south on Main Street
Asked why she has worked so hard on the project, Schultz said, “My husband and I were
both born and grew up in the Odebolt Community. We both attended Odebolt-Arthur
Schools, and so do our children. I am very proud of my hometown, and I want to keep it a nice
place to live.”
“I especially want to praise the
kids that helped. The
students ranged from 4th grade on up through high school. I
felt that their involvement in the project would help build pride in their
community. The Hoefling and Fertig families were a great help, and I
appreciate the support of Elaine and Ron Rex for their help and support. I
want to thank everyone that was involved! It is
amazing what can happen with inspiration and hard work. If we
all pitch in, it’s awesome what can be accomplished.”
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*From the Odebolt Centennial book,
"As Time Goes By", Odebolt, Iowa 1877-1977, p. 190
IOOF Lodge #447 - ....."In January 1892 they moved into the Mattes
Building (which was built in 1891) to the second floor on Main and Second
Street. Here they held their meetings for 73 years.
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