C.R. residents color-coordinate flood-recovery celebration

By Jeff Raasch
The Gazette

CEDAR RAPIDS — The boulevard has turned blue over by Larry Kelley’s house.

Blue lights have sprung up all along the 1800 block of Ellis Boulevard NW, as neighbors along the Cedar River continue to rebuild their lives after last June’s historic flood.

Some put blue bulbs in their porch lights, while others have blue lamps visible from the street.

“It looked like it was all dead for a while, but now that the blue lights are out, you can see who’s back,” said Kelley, who put up the first blue light. “It’s fun, and it really looks nice. We’re trying to get people excited about coming back.”

Kelley, 56, said the blue-light club started “by accident.”

He and his wife, Clara, were among the first to reoccupy their riverfront home at 1861 Ellis Blvd. NW. At Christmas, they put blue lights on a tree in their front yard and replaced the bulbs near the front door with blue ones. The blue stood out in a block where most houses were dark and vacant.

“There were a lot of people who said it boosted their spirits to see it was still there,” Kelley said.

Neighbor Craig Augustine decided to rebuild at 1855 Ellis Blvd. NW and put up his own blue lights. It’s more of a political statement to him: “If you’re flying a blue light, you’re willing to be on the wet side of the levee.”

Larry Kelley of Cedar Rapids and his wife Clara display blue lights in front of their home along Ellis Boulevard NW in northwest Cedar Rapids. Photo by Jim Slosiarek.

About 10 houses now have the blue lights.

Augustine has promoted the idea down the block, telling neighbors where they could get the blue bulbs. About 10 houses now display them, and five more are planning to install them by fall, Kelley said.

Kelley said most of the block has decided to rebuild, and the process has brought them closer together.

“We’d like to see everybody in that neighborhood (put the lights up), to let everybody know we’re coming back,” Kelley said. “Make it the blue zone.”

© Gazette Communications 2009