Hollywood has its famous Walk of Fame honoring legends of the movie industry. Stars on the walkway permanently preserve the names of performers long after their careers have become largely forgotten.

Fort Dodge now has something similar. Plaques have been installed honoring buildings that were an important part of the city’s past but are now just memories. Those historic structures are gone, but they will not be forgotten thanks to a project of the city’s Historic Preservation Commission.

The commission received a state grant to help pay for plaques to mark the locations of 13 buildings that have been demolished or destroyed by fire. The plaques feature a photo of the historic stucture along with a description of the building and its purpose.

These are the buildings being honored:

• First brick building in the city that served as first post office and first courthouse, First Avenue North and Fifth Street,

• Duncombe/Eilers Hotel, west side of City Square,

• Colby Livery Stable, 426 Central Ave.,

• Barry Opera House, 527 Central Ave.,

• Dead Man’s Alley, southeast corner of the City Square to South Sixth Street,

• Fort Dodge Presbyterian Collegiate Institute, 610 First Ave. N.,

• Rialto Theater, 605 Central Ave.,

• Fort Dodge City Hall, including the police and fire departments, First Avenue South and Seventh Street,

• Oleson Drug Co., 800 Central Ave.,

• The Princess Theater, 14-16 N. Ninth St.,

• Midland Theater, First Avenue South and Ninth Street,

• Two post offices, Central Avenue and Ninth Street and

• Chicago Great Western Depot, Central Avenue and 12th Street.

Seventy-eight buildings that played a part in the pageant of our town’s history have been deemed of historic significance. Those for which plaques now exist are gone forever. The others still remain. According to Rick Carle, who chairs the city’s Historic Preservation Commission, his group plans to approach the owners of those 65 historic structures to see if the owners would have an interest in purchasing plaques to be installed on their buildings. That’s an excellent idea, which we hope will receive broad support.

The Messenger applauds the commission for its initiative in moving this project forward. We hope that when people who may be unfamiliar with our town’s history see these plaques, they will be motivated to take the time to learn more.