“This is one of the nicest and largest projects the Daily Herald has ever done.”
That simple sentence is how Daily Herald General Manager Chris Lash describes a new project undertaking that will map Tyrone, Bellwood and Tipton areas.
“This is going to be a realistic, full-color map tht will show every business and notable building in each of the communities,” said Lash. “Tyrone will be placed on one side and Bellwood and Tipton will be on the other.”
According to Lash, David Mowery, the artist, is currently walking the streets of Tyrone drafting pencil sketches of each of the buildings. He said the Tyrone portion of the drawings should be completed in a couple weeks and then he’ll work through Bellwood and Tipton.
“So if you see a man standing outside your business or home with a pencil in his hand, don’t worry,” said Lash. “He’s one of us trying to do another good thing for this community. He draws realistically because he’s such an incredible artist.”
Lash said the idea of the mapping originated with newpapers associated with The Herald. Mainline Newspapers and the Bedford Gazette did similar projects. He said maps have been produced of Ebensburg, Bedford, Bellefonte and Punxsutawney.
“Now it’s time it comes to Tyrone and Bellwood.”
The map will be produced in a poster format. Lash said it’s something that can be framed and displayed in businesses and in homes as a collector’s item.”
“The Chamber of Commerce here is looking forward to having something of this quality to distribute,” said Lash. “This gives that organization just another piece of good information for these communities.”
Lash said the project will be completed over the next couple of weeks and residents and businesses can expect to see the finished project sometime after the first of the year. He expects more than 10,000 copies will be printed then distributed in a Saturday’s edition.
Maps of the area has been produced before, but not of this quality, according to Bonnie Patton, executive director of the Tyrone Chamber of Commerce.
“There will be a difference with this map compared to maps produced previously,” said Patton. “Those maps pretty much just showed the streets of Tyrone, but they also included a chronological list of community events. This one won’t have that. But, it’s a beautiful project.”
But according to Lash, the lack of other information on the map allows more attention to be given to the artistry of the project.
“People will look at this thing and say ‘Wow,” said Lash. “They’ll automatically know this is a first-rate piece of work that will only add to the luster of this community.
“This is a very expensive project, but it’s going to be an awesome piece of information when finished.”
Lash said companies that specialize in these types of project really “stick it to” businesses, price wise, but said this project will cost sponsoring businesses well less than half of what other companies charge.
For more information contact Lash at The Herald at 684-4000.
