After a dramatic countdown, colorful lights illuminated Ramona’s new archway and the structure’s centerpiece was revealed “Est. 1883 Ramona.”

Halloween trick-or-treaters and others in the crowd cheered and whistled at the sight of the community archway 11 years in the making crossing over 10th Street during an Oct. 31 unveiling ceremony.

Jim Piva, president of the Ramona Archway Association that was responsible for its creation, told onlookers “Ramona has been put on the map with this archway.”

“Everybody I talked to said this is the most beautiful archway they’ve ever seen,” Piva said earlier in the evening before the unveiling. “What I’m hearing is this is better than anyone thought it could be. We exceeded their expectations, which is a great feeling.”

Jim Piva, president of the Ramona Archway Association, speaks to the crowd at the Oct. 31 archway unveiling about the projects development. (Stephanie Ogilvie)

The first signs of the archway emerged the night of Oct. 23, when the pillars supporting the structure were installed on both sides of 10th near Main Street. The following night, the street was again closed to traffic so the enormous archway could be placed atop the pillars.

The Ramona Archway Association scheduled the unveiling ceremony for Halloween night, reminiscent of the first archway fundraiser held at the same site on Oct. 31 in 2019.

The archway’s artist, Leslie Souza, told the crowd that she was tasked with incorporating items that show the essence of Ramona. She was recruited for the project based on her work designing the Welcome to Ramona sign at state Route 67 and Highland Valley Road, she said.

Her design reflects some of Ramona’s unique characteristics – farming and ranching, aviation, vineyards, the Ramona Grasslands Preserve and even a coyote.

“When the archway went up across the pillars the tears started to flow,” Souza said about last weeks installation. “It wasn’t because of pride, it was due to relief, because I wasn’t sure if it would look good and so many people had worked so hard on it that I wanted them to be proud.”

A close-up shot of the archway design unveiled at an Oct. 31 ceremony. (Stephanie Ogilvie)

Designs on the archway metal work include a coyote and horseback riders. (Stephanie Ogilvie)

Other designs in the metal work include images from Ramonas agricultural heritage. (Stephanie Ogilvie)

The details of the archways pillars, including the cut-out stars. (Stephanie Ogilvie)

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A close-up shot of the archway design unveiled at an Oct. 31 ceremony. (Stephanie Ogilvie)

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Souza said she crafted the archway from drawings, then transferred them to a digital format on the computer. Throughout the process, she said she gave a lot of thought to the images and their sizes.

Once she finished the design and plasma cutting, she said her husband, Cliff Fuerst, and his brother, Johnny Fuerst, fabricated the steel structure. As a finishing touch, the centerpiece was powder-coated and painted, but the outer edges have a natural patina that will warm up and become more rustic over time, she said.

Archway creators are, from left, Johnny Fuerst, Leslie Souza and Cliff Fuerst. (Julie Gallant)

In his talk, Piva said the first five years of the project were spent on a plan to get the archway to cross over Main Street, which is considered state Route 67 and state Route 78 on some portions. But putting an archway over a state highway proved to be too daunting, and planned community banners would not have been allowed on the archway there.

So the association decided to pivot and focus on installing it on 10th Street.

The association formed as a nonprofit in 2017, and Souza, a Ramona artist, designed the archway in 2019 before the project stalled for a few years starting in 2020 due to COVID, Piva said.

“With the help of Ramonans and county Supervisor Joel Anderson we are here today,” he said.

Anderson’s office was instrumental in obtaining a $250,000 Neighborhood Reinvestment Program grant that paid for about half of the archways $500,000 cost, according to the association. Anderson’s predecessor, former Supervisor Dianne Jacob, helped launch the grant project in its early stages, Piva said.

Jim Piva and Stephanie Ramsey Norvell presenting a star to San Diego County Supervisor Joel Anderson, who was instrumental in getting a $250,000 county grant for the archway project. (Stephanie Ogilvie)

County Supervisor Joel Anderson presenting a Proclamation Certificate of Recognition Award to Ramona Archway Association board members. (Stephanie Ogilvie)

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Jim Piva and Stephanie Ramsey Norvell presenting a star to San Diego County Supervisor Joel Anderson, who was instrumental in getting a $250,000 county grant for the archway project. (Stephanie Ogilvie)

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Anderson told the crowd just before the archways drape was removed that he could not be more proud of the project and of all those who contributed to it.

“No other community could pull it together and make it happen,” Anderson said. “The mountain you climbed is steep.”

Anderson also presented association members on stage with a proclamation that designates Oct. 31, 2024 as Ramona Archway Association day in San Diego County. The proclamation recognizes the association for “creating a landmark that embodies the community of Ramona,” he said.

“I want to recognize everyone who made this happen,” he said, noting that significant contributors would be given certificates of recognition.

Chip Rumis, a Ramona resident of 47 years who was the archway’s project manager, was there to celebrate what he described as a “very smooth process.”

“There were wonderful people who all pitched in and it turned out to be beautiful,” Rumis said.

Dr. Marcelo Rivera and archway project manager Chip Rumis at the unveiling ceremony on Oct. 31. (Stephanie Ogilvie)

Ramona royalty at the archway unveiling: from left, Pre-Teen Jr Miss Ramona Princess Ella Iwaszkiewicz, Miss Ramona 2nd Princess Nicole Petersen, Miss Ramona 1st Princess Natalie Wrenn, Pre-Teen Jr Miss Ramona Tarin Kilcoyne, Teen Miss Ramona Keely Townley, Ramona Rodeo Jr Queen Kate Dobrotin and Ramona Rodeo Queen Izzy Lynch. (Stephanie Ogilvie)

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Dr. Marcelo Rivera and archway project manager Chip Rumis at the unveiling ceremony on Oct. 31. (Stephanie Ogilvie)

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Other project contributors in the audience included Debbie Hankins, co-owner of Hankins Construction of Ramona with her husband, Dave Hankins, who helped facilitate the permit process and installation of the archway.

“It’s beautiful and it’s going to be an amazing part of Ramona,” Debbie Hankins said. “To see how happy the Ramona Archway Association members are is truly something I enjoyed being a part of.”

Jim Piva’s brother, Joel Piva, was also there to witness the unveiling. As a former stone mason from Idaho, Joel Piva said he appreciated the quality of the stone work done for the archway’s pillars.

“It’s much better than I envisioned,” Piva said. “It’s worth all the effort. I know Jim worked on it for years.”

Dr. Marcelo Rivera, a Ramona resident of 45 years, said the community was united on the project and the volunteer efforts should be appreciated.

“This is fabulous for Ramona,” Rivera said. “It shows the spirit of the community.”

Ramona resident Keith Rieber said the archway will be a legacy for the community and Ramona Archway Association members. (Julie Gallant)

Keith Rieber, a Ramona resident of 40 years, said the archway was worth the $500,000 invested in the project.

“It more than met my expectations and it’s absolutely beautiful,” Rieber said. “I love it because it’s going to be here for hundreds of years into the future.