Retired Firefighters Honor Former Verso Paper Mill Memory [VIDEO]

SAUK RAPIDS -- If a picture is worth a thousand words, then one painting was screaming at the Sauk Rapids VFW this (Monday) evening.

A special unveiling of a painting of the Paper Mill was held.

Ken Schulte is with the Sartell/LeSauk Retired Firefighters Association. He says the organization has spent the last six months finding a way to honor the former Verso Paper Mill.

"When the fire came two years ago and being the fire from hell for a seven day period, we knew this was an historic structure that needed to be remembered," says Schulte.

The print shows the former Mill and the history that came with it.

"You'll see part of the dam, the old wood piles, the original buildings and then the new paper mill or the blue paper mill," says Schulte.

Schulte says they hope to sell 300 copies of the paintings, with two goals in mind.

"The proceeds we make from it we put back to our fire prevention and community awareness as well as helping our fire department in Sartell with their functions," says Schulte.

And preserve the memory of a building that once stood tall in the community.

If you are interested in a painting you can call Schulte at 320-761-4460.