Volunteers help make Buck Wilkin's vision for uptown Hillsboro a reality

If you have been in uptown Hillsboro recently, you may have noticed the latest addition in an effort to beautify the historic district, as an idea of the late John “Buck” Wilkin has become a reality thanks to the help of his daughter and other volunteers.

Large cedar planters, which were constructed by Hillsboro High School industrial tech teacher Josh Pohlman’s classes, have been installed on South High Street, West Main Street and East Main Street. Wilkin’s daughter, Jennifer Howland, and fellow volunteer Alice Wilson planted perennials and annuals over the Memorial Day weekend to complete the look.

Wilkin, a longtime uptown business owner, was a member of several local committees, including the Hillsboro Planning Commission. For several years, he purchased and donated planters and flowers in the uptown area and also volunteered with watering and maintaining the plants.

According to Howland, Wilkin was on a trip to Canada several years ago and saw similar large wooden planters, which sparked the idea to bring them to Hillsboro.

“When Dad wanted something, he wanted it done fast,” Howland said.

Wilkin and Howland brought the proposal to Hillsboro Mayor Justin Harsha and Safety and Service Director Brianne Abbott last summer.

“It’s a great addition to uptown,” Hillsboro Economic Development Coordinator Lauren Walker said.

Next, they enlisted the help of Pohlman, whose classes constructed the planters out of Amish wood.

“They came out and measured, and they cut the wood and made it all themselves,” Howland, who is also a teacher at the high school, said. “Before Dad passed away, [Wilkin] drove them all around. Dad told them exactly what he wanted, so Mr. Pohlman wrote all that down.

“Larry Brubaker helped get the wood, and Josh Pohlman’s classes put it all together.”

Unfortunately, Wilkin passed away in December before the new cedar planters were completed, but they stand as a great reminder of the legacy of service he left.

“Dad really loved the city of Hillsboro and always liked doing projects around town,” Howland said.

This summer, Howland and Wilson are working hard to make sure Wilkin’s efforts to beautify the uptown area continues. In addition to the new planters, there are hanging baskets as well as plants in the existing planters all across the uptown district, which Howland and Wilson maintain on their golf cart.

“Alice does a great job, and she coordinates all that,” Howland said. “She and Dad worked together on all this.”

Anyone wishing to contribute to the fund for the uptown flowers may donate to an account at NCB that was opened after Wilkin’s passing, to make sure his flower dreams are “sustainable and keep growing,” Howland said.