The Arch Is Built
The Town of Waynesville Superintendent of Water & Lights, Oscar Briggs, fabricated the arch from steel and sheet iron. Installation began on Tuesday night, May 30, 1933, and was completed the next day. Later, a local sign painter added the lettering as shown in the photos above and to the left.
A newsletter distributed by the Chamber of Commerce dated June 1, 1933 notes the following:
A Definite Entrance
At last! You can’t have heard it, but you can’t miss having seen it if you’ve been up or down Main Street this morning! In the event you haven’t been—this is to advise you that the metal arch is in position. Although it isn’t painted yet, it already demands attention and prompts questions. If folks can see anything at all, they can certainly find the way to Soco Gap Highway when the painting is done, if they can’t see they won’t be driving so. All our hats are off to Mr. Briggs, his co-workers, and those who by contribution or effort helped to make the creation and placing of this splendid marker a reality.