Persistence pays off for new library sign

Maureen Zacher-Bockius thought a new library needed a new sign, so she set about making it happen. It took a little longer to realize than she had hoped, taking the better part of a year and a half, but her persistence finally paid off.

After taking a design to Carol Blix, the librarian at the Cathlamet Library, she began her quest for the perfect piece of old timber.

Henry Blankenship had just the thing. There was only one minor problem. It was 10 feet long and Zacher-Bockius had no way to transport the gift.

Luckily, Bob Jungers stepped in to help. He had the wood transferred to his shop at Elochoman Millworks and Zacher-Bockius waited for the wood to dry.

And waited. And waited a little more, calling Jungers now and again to ask how it was going.

Finally, the call came.

Jungers had had the the length of timber sanded and stamped with lettering.

"He made it pretty," Zacher-Bockius said.

Two more friends, Roger Davis and Jerry Tracy, took over. They brought it to a garage where Zacher-Bockius painted the letters and Davis put on several coats of a sealant.

That's when Zacher-Bockius and friends learned that the old City Hall, now the Community Center and Library, was built on solid rock. After a little digging they found a piece of ground to place the sign.

"In the midst of this," Zacher-Bockius said, "I wondered if it would ever get done. I've lived here for 30 years and have done a lot of things, but this was something I really wanted to do and I'm so proud."