Olson — who was known for his artistically crafted woodwork, his infectious sense of humor and the twinkle in his eye that often saw him called the “Elf of Pocahontas” — was also one of the community’s biggest promoters and advocates.

That legacy of craftsmanship and the promotion of the community is being carried on by his significant other, Patty Mefford, and his surviving sisters, Margaret Egli and Lois Hessenius.

“We lost the creator, but we still have the product,” Mefford said.

Olson’s storefront, where he located the business in 2014 after having it in Pomeroy since 2004, still has an “open” sign lit, along with the much beloved and heavily weathered garden gnome atop the awning.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
Leonard Olson is shown in his Pocahontas shop in July 2019. He was busy working on a presentation showing the positive economic impact of tourism to the area. In spite of being terminally ill, he kept working on a variety of projects and making his famous kaleidoscopes. Olson’s family is continuing to promote the community and manufacture toys and other novelties.

Mefford works on the cribbage boards, puzzles and nativity scenes in the shop, while the lathe Olson turned his kaleidoscopes on has been moved to LeMars where the family works to produce Olson’s designs.

“The goal is to follow Leonard,” she said. “We’re doing everything as close as we can to what Leonard did.”

Olson was well known for being a little less than organized.

That’s changed, and everything is neat and lined up. They’ve also caught up with his backlog of orders.

“Trying to find all his passwords has been a trip,” she said.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
The tall statue of Pocahontas greets visitors on their arrival to the community. She’s currently holding a pair of running shoes flung there by the track team for good luck, an annual tradition in the community.

Olson was noted for getting bus tours to stop into his shop and by extension, visit other retailers and restaurants in Pocahontas.

She said that will continue. Some are already scheduled.

The community is happy to see the store remain open.

“The people in the town are just thrilled,” she said.

As they sorted the shop, the family found many plans and prototypes Olson had created.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
Egg-shaped kaleidoscope turnings await the installation of mirrors and lenses at the Kaleidoscope Factory in Pocahontas. The shape is faithful to Leonard Olson’s original design.

“It’s like Christmas,” Mefford said. “He had so many ideas.”

She said the creations remain popular.

“Seventy-five percent of the time when somebody walks in they end up buying something,” she said. “I better get one.”

Pocahontas Mayor Dick Gruber is also happy that the family is keeping Olson’s business and community promotion going.

“I hope it continues,” he said. “I’m rooting for them, absolutely.”

Pocahontas is also celebrating a major milestone this year. The community is 150 years old.

Gruber said work is well under way to make it a memorable birthday.

“The committees are formed, they’re hard at work and we’re raising some funds,” he said.

He’s hoping for a grand celebration.

“We want to show folks what we’re doing,” he said.

Downtown Pocahontas is also seeing some changes and growth.

Home Plate Bar and Grill has new owners.

“It’s a young family that’s moved in,” Gruber said.

There is also the new Kaloni Bike Sharing program that lets residents and visitors check out bikes via an app on users’ phones.

“We helped with some funding,” he said.

He’s also looking forward to a new Mexican restaurant that will open in a downtown building that was refurbished with a $100,000 grant that paid for a new roof, tuck pointing and interior work.

The city has also made matching funds available to downtown building orders for sprucing up their facades.

“We provide matching funds up to $5,000,” Gruber said. “We’ve had a number of business owners that wanted to be part of that.”

The city has completed a major renovation of the sanitary sewer system to stop storm runoff from entering the water treatment plant. They also made upgrades to the treatment plant itself.

For visitors who arrive in Pocahontas from the east, one of the first things they see on the horizon is the tall statue of the town’s namesake.

She’s currently holding a pair of signed running shoes in her outstretched hand.

“It’s a tradition,” Gruber said. “The track team, for good luck in the upcoming season, they fling a pair of shoes up there.”

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