Mayor’s Column October 5, 2024
Rohn Bishop, Mayor of Waupun
Hello Waupun!
A year ago this weekend we came together as a community to celebrate the centennial of Waupun’s oldest sculpture, the Recording Angel. The Angel was donated to Waupun in October 1923 as a tribute to the late Mrs. Shaler and a gift to our community. Over the next several years, Mr. Shaler would donate five sculptures. In the late 1990’s, Waupun would acquire two more of Mr. Shaler’s works and add them to our collection, what we now call the Shaler Legacy Collection.
Today, we again come together as a community to celebrate. This year we gather to open our new Food Truck Alley, unveil a mural, and kick off our new sculpture tours.
The new sculptures will rotate annually, unless they are purchased. A few weeks ago, I wrote about an effort by Steve Biever at the Historical Society to try and raise enough money to purchase “We Can Do It” also known as “Rosie the Riveter” and to keep her here in Waupun. As many of you know, National Rivet and Waupun played a key role in World War 2, making the rivets for the war effort. In fact, National Rivet had a military protective perimeter around it, with a checkpoint to get in or out.
I’m super excited to announce the We Can Do It, Community Challenge. A joint effort to raise the necessary funds to keep Rosie in Waupun. National Rivet has graciously offered to donate half the cost of keeping Rosie, so we’re hoping to raise the other half. Roughly $15,500. Basically, we need 155 people to give $100. Or 5 people to give $1,000. I know we can do this, because we are Waupun, and we take a lot of pride in our history. To learn more please attend our ribbon cutting events this morning at 10 at the new Food Truck Alley downtown! They’ll be a delicious food truck, along with everything else that our downtown has to offer on a Saturday morning. I sure hope I see you there!
Editor’s note: cash donation envelopes can be picked up and donated at Horicon Bank Waupun.
In other news, we’re waiting on a part to repair the dam. Once the part is in, Public Works will get it fixed. Thank you to Waupun Utilities for helping out with the use of a water pump. And thank you to the residents of Waupun who helped to clean up along the river while the water level is so low.
The railroad crossing at Brown Street has been repaired. This means we’ve had Main Street, Lincoln Street, Brown Street, repaired, and the Taylor/Jackson crossing patched up.
Bulck pickup has ended for the season. If you were late getting your stuff out, please remove it. I should add that since changing to GFL for city garbage, garbage services have been delivered really well, and I’m thankful to GFL for their services.
The fall yard waste season begins this week, although with the weather we haven’t had many leaves fall yet, but we know they will.
Finally, I had a lot of fun riding in the homecoming parade. Thank you to WASD for having me.
Thank you, Waupun, and please come check out the new Food Truck Alley today!
God Bless,
Mayor Rohn
Updated 10/5/24 3:56PM — Cash donations for the “We Can Do It” sculpture fundraiser can be brought to Horicon Bank Waupun.
