At a new AT&T building, I tapped into the rich past of the adjacent street to create historically accurate narratives set into the sidewalk. The story subjects included indigenous residents, homesteaders, recent inhabitants and natural histories.
Excerpts: Planter. Story Plaque, Schematic, and Overview.
Story plaque text:
John Ironside has just traveled from Glasgow to South Africa to fight in the Boer War. At the age of 13, his job is to lead the men into combat, playing his bagpipes. John doesn't know it now, but one day he will meet Nellie Buchan and move to this land. They will buy the two acres that extend north and east of here and raise chickens. Nellie will grow roses, plums and pie cherries. As she works in the garden, John will teach their son and grandsons to play the pipes. But that's all in the distant future.
Today, in a land many miles from home, John puts on his McKenzie tartan and prepares for battle.