Commission closes out totem pole rehabilitation and approves interpretive sign

The Sandpoint Arts, Culture and Historic Preservation Commission reported Jan. 14 that a community-led rehabilitation of the totem pole at Community Hall has been completed and that staff will install an accompanying interpretive sign.

Heather Upton reviewed the project history: curator/volunteer Curtis Summerfield led a restoration and relocation of the totem pole, which Upton said had been “smothered by aggressive arborvitae.” The restored pole is currently installed at Community Hall on a newly built base, and the restoration included color revitalization and an informational plaque, Upton said.

Upton described work on an interpretive sign to be placed beside the totem pole. She said the sign will be attached with 3M products to avoid drilling into historic wood: “The installation process for the sign will be just some 3M on the, the woods, so nothing hurts the historic logs,” Upton said.

Commissioners discussed archival research uncovered during the project. Upton reported that research in newspaper archives connected the piece to Delmar Wood and historic exhibitions; she noted a quoted line found in a historic article about Wood’s early interest in carving. Curtis’s work on the project was described by commissioners as an Eagle Scout project; Upton said she signed the final paperwork and received the volunteer waiver, and that the commission has officially closed out the project.

Commissioners praised the volunteer effort and said staff and the museum will support any further interpretive materials. Upton said she will proceed with installing the interpretive sign at Community Hall.