Melrose Mainstreet has a wonderful new project being completed–created & designed by Leo “Twinkle” Ward..who is also known as Melrose’s Chief Leprechaun.
As the 75th anniversary of the 1937 state basketball championship approached–and when this year the Des Moines Register & its readers voted “MELROSE 1937 BASKETBALL TEAM the BEST HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL TEAM IN THE FIRST 100 YEARS OF BOYS BASKETBALL“…Leo decided it was high time Melrose have a visible permanent tribute to honor this amazing event.
Leo designed a tribute of stone topped with a huge basketball & will soon attach plaques that list the players & coach’s names and a plaque that spells out the Des Moines Register & its readers honor bestowed on this team.
Leo recruited volunteers to help. Scott McGee poured the cement footings, Leo, John Parkin, John Frye & Tony Wolinski (grandson of Louie & Anna Schrader) constructed the monument. A plaque on the back of the monument will list volunteers who helped Leo.
This monument is located in a highly visible spot beside the gazebo & near the new Veterans Memorial in our Mainstreet Park.
Plans call for landscaping around the area & adding a park bench near it & the Veterans Memorial located nearby. Some of that will be done in the spring.
It’s not finished yet, but CHECK OUT THE PICTURES by going to our Home Page of this site and click on “PHOTO ALBUM”. We’ll post more pictures as the tribute is completed. Meanwhile, our THANKS go out to dear LEO & HIS FRIENDS FOR THIS AWESOME NEW ADDITION TO MELROSE MAINSTREET~~! God Bless