Once upon a time
Giving new life to a 50-year-old story.
Our client, Meth-Wick Community, was gearing up for a 50th anniversary celebration which would include major renovation and expansion of their original building. We suggested that an exhibit would be a great way to crown the celebration. Our client agreed.
First things first
Sorting through five boxed decades.
There were six boxes of photos, documents, newsletters, press releases, newspaper clippings and a few artifacts.
We set our “history GPS” to guide us in selecting archives and artifacts that got us to our destination: an accurate and entertaining overview of Meth-Wick from 1961 to 2011.
Location, location, location
Busy corridor, lots of traffic.
Our client identified the “empty wall space” where the display would be located—a stone’s throw from the Live, Laugh, Learn center, the hub of Meth-Wick programs. It would also be in a part of the expansion that linked the old with the new, a corridor that would provide plenty of traffic, both visitors and staff.
Treasure chest of jewels
What to polish, what to put away?
Meth-Wick’s resident newsletter was a valuable time stamp for what-happened-when. That source, along with photos taken over five decades, including images of Meth-Wick’s early years, guided us in telling an engaging history.
We selected, scanned and made prints of the photos that helped add color to our historical display.
A document by a business associate of Mr. Wick, penned for posterity, gave us insight into Meth-Wick’s founder. He often had a red carnation on his lapel and a fur hat on his head during cold Iowa winters. Since these signature items were not found among the boxed artifacts, we purchased substitutes to enrich our story telling.
Ta-Da!
Final display depicts change.
The final exhibit illustrates how Mr. Wick’s dream to provide a home for aging men turned into a premier retirement community serving both men and women in the Cedar Rapids area. Through photos and narrative, we tell the story of how Meth-Wick’s campus and buildings have evolved over 50 years to meet the ever-changing needs of retirees
Find out more about PR or this project in particular. Contact Dave Morton – dmorton@jwmorton.com. 319-378-1081.