Soul of 78- Mike Putman
“Our big project right now is the creation of Stanley A. Wade Park, which is located on 19thStreet downtown. This park is a joint effort between Jasper Main Street and the Kiwanis Club, and was named for Stanley A. Wade because not only did Mr. Wade purchase the land and donate it to the Kiwanis Club, he also made another contribution for the park’s production. The park will feature Main Street’s East gateway sign, marking entrance into downtown Jasper.The West gateway ‘sign’ is a bit different – this one will be a mural on the side of the Brown Building, where 19thStreet intersects with Elliott Blvd. It will be lit up at night, feature the Main Street logo, and read ‘Enter here for downtown Jasper!’Some other projects we have going on include Streetscape Phase II, which begins at Los Reyes and goes all the way to Main Street Taqueria. We will be planting more trees to enhance the beautification of downtown, just as we’ve done on the West side.Artist Missy Miles is working on a mural at the Burton Building, funded by the City of Jasper and Los Reyes and commissioned by Mayor O’Mary. The mural depicts a golf bag to commemorate the building’s original roots as Burton Manufacturing, a golf bag production company. There is also a new downtown map sign right in front of Pinnacle Bank, showing all of the Jasper Main Street Business locations. Oh, and today, we’ve ordered 5 bike racks to place in various areas downtown!Recently we were recognized by Main Street Alabama, for the following awards: Excellence in Fundraising – Jasper Main Street Endowed Fund, Excellence in Planning & Public Space – Streetscape Phase I, Excellence in Architectural Design – Harbin’s Outdoors, and Alabama Main Street Community Award – Mayor David O’Mary. The Jasper Main Street Endowed Fund that has been set up at the Walker Area Community Foundation is very important because it means that downtown revitalization will continue long after I am dead and gone, and long after the people after me are gone. Downtown Jasper will keep growing.”-Mike Putman, President of Jasper Main StreetPhoto + Interview by Blakeney Cox