Lions Park pergola prep

A crew from Johnson Painting in Charles City worked on the pergola in the Willson-Lorber Lions Club Rose Garden at the corner of Main Street and Riverside Drive earlier this week. The workers were sanding the wood in preparation for staining later in the week.

The garden was created in 1971 as a Lions Club community beautification project after the tornado of 1968, then renovated in 2013 and at that time named after George Lorber and Eb Willson, two Lions who had been instrumental in starting the project.

The park contains more than 150 rose plants in many varieties, benches and a brick walkway in addition to the pergola.

Lorber was a longtime Charles City school superintendent and Lions Club member who helped lead the way to rebuilding three school buildings after the tornado. He died in 2015. Willson, who died in 1996, was also a longtime Lion and owner of Starr Ice Cream Co. and Riverside Greenhouse.

— By Bob Steenson