By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
HOULTON — Thanks to the generous donations of many individuals, one man’s dream of seeing a sign welcoming people to Houlton became a reality.
Now, those who helped fund that project are getting some recognition of their own.
On Wednesday June 26, Jon McLaughlin of the Southern Aroostook Development Corporation unveiled a contributors’ plaque located on the second floor of the Houlton Town Office with the names of all those who donated funds to help bring the project to completion.
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Joseph Cyr
IN MEMORY — A plaque in memory of the late Dallas Henderson displays the names of all the individuals who have donated to the “Welcome to Houlton” sign. Showing off the plaque are, from left, Jon McLaughlin, executive director of SADC; Christine Henderson, Dallas’ wife; and Sam Henderson, his son.
“About five years ago, SADC started a project to put a message board sign up by the exit to Interstate 95,” McLaughlin said. “It is something that was wanted for years, but the Maine Department of Transportation wouldn’t allow a sign with an electronic message board.”
Through a two-year effort by McLaughlin and former town economic director Wade Hanson, Houlton was granted a waiver from MDOT to place its sign.
“Four years ago, Dallas Henderson came onto our board and he took great interest in getting a sign placed for Houlton,” McLaughlin said.
Henderson became chairman of the “Sold on Houlton” committee and went to work raising funds for the sign.
“Sadly, before we got too far along on the project, Dallas passed away,” McLaughlin said. “We decided to keep on with his dream and create the sign project as a memorial to Dallas.”
Henderson’s photo can be found above the impressive wood plaque, located in the second floor lobby.
Henderson’s widow Christine and son Sam attended Wednesday’s plaque unveiling.
Following the ceremony, McLaughlin presented the town of Houlton with the final payment for the sign.
The sign was erected in the summer of 2012 with the new catchphrase “Welcome to Houlton Maine, worth a visit … worth a lifetime.” Krista Putnam of New Limerick, as part of a contest to determine the motto, submitted the slogan.
The electronic message center is controlled from the Houlton town office.
A policy was developed for the acceptable uses for the message center. Messages displayed may not be commercial in nature.
