A sign that was prevalent in Hollister for many years has been donated back to the school district.

Hollister Ward 2 Alderman David Willard had bought the old “Hollister Elem School R-5” sign several years ago when then Superintendent Dr. Tim Taylor and the rest of the board held an auction of items that had been left in the Old Elementary Building. According to a release from the school, Willard said he had intended to do something with it but never did and has decided to donate it back to the district. 

Hollister Elementary Principal Mark Waugh says in the release the district is glad to get it back and is seeking information from the public on the history of the sign. 

The complete press release from the Hollister School District is below: 

Thanks to Hollister Alderman David Willard, Hollister Elementary School recently received a piece of history. 

Willard acquired the old HOLLISTER ELEM SCHOOL R - 5 sign several years ago when former Superintendent, Dr. Tim Taylor, and the school board at that time held an auction of items that had been left in the old elementary school. 

“I remember seeing the sign in a pile of items left in the old school,” Willard recalls. “I thought it was pretty cool and that I would do something with it.” While he doesn’t remember exactly how much he paid for it, he thinks it was around ten or fifteen dollars. 

While Willard had intentions of doing something with the sign, it found its new home in his garage. After sitting in his garage for a number of years, Willard decided to donate the sign back to the school. 

Hollister Elementary Principal, Mr. Mark Waugh, shares that the school is very excited to obtain the sign and is grateful to Alderman Willard for preserving this piece of history. 

And the history is what Waugh is seeking help with. “We have been gifted with this amazing piece of Hollister School history,” Waugh says, “but we are not sure what that history is. We would love to be able to tell the story of this sign.” 

Mr. Waugh and the Hollister School District are seeking information to help them tell that story. They are asking that anyone with information about the sign, such as who made it and what year it was placed on the old elementary school, contact them. 

If you have information about the history of this sign, please contact Mr. Mark Waugh at 417-243-4025 or mwaugh@hollisterschools.com.