T-R PHOTO BY LANA BRADSTREAM —Gov. Kim Reynolds speaks at the Thursday Lennox Museum ribbon cutting ceremony. The governor spoke briefly of the resilience of the company after receiving devastating damage from the 2018 tornado.

(Editor’s note: This is the second in a series of stories looking back at the July 19, 2018 EF-3 tornado leading up to the fifth anniversary, but also looking forward and detailing rebuilding and revitalization efforts since then.)

Almost five years after the EF-3 tornado which tore through Lennox, the rebuilding effort was completed Thursday. The company hosted a ribbon cutting and grand opening of the Lennox Museum, which drew a crowd of roughly 50 people, including the entire executive team from Texas and Gov. Kim Reynolds.

CEO Alok Maskara opened the event, speaking about the tornado and highlighting the temerity and tenacity of Lennox employees and the people of Marshalltown to rebuild. The museum, he said, is a testament to the strength of the community.

“It is a tribute to Marshalltown,” he said.

Maskara said they are proud to be a part of the community. After Maskara, Reynolds spoke at the podium, having traveled to the Lennox facility from Des Moines as a guest of honor at the event and eventually doing the honors of cutting the ribbon.

T-R PHOTO BY LANA BRADSTREAM —Gov. Kim Reynolds and Lennox CEO Alok Maskara cut the ribbon to the Lennox Museum on Thursday in Marshalltown. Roughly 50 people attended the event.

“Here we stand to celebrate Lennox’s incredible comeback story,” she said.

Reynolds remembered visiting Marshalltown the day after the 2018 tornado and seeing the destruction.

“I saw first-hand the devastation left behind, but I also witnessed the unbreakable spirit of this community as they channeled every ounce of energy into recovery and rebuilding,” she said.

She spoke briefly about the history of the company founding in Marshalltown in 1895 and highlighted the fact that Lennox did not leave, despite the damage.

“You chose to stay because of your loyalty to this community and state,” she said.

Reynolds thanked Lennox for keeping the production facility operational in Marshalltown and making such a major investment in rebuilding where the company began. She also spoke about Marshalltown Strong, and the evidence of that following the tornado and then the 2020 derecho.

T-R PHOTO BY LANA BRADSTREAM —Attendees visit after viewing the displays of the Lennox Museum, which hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony on Thursday. The museum is a result of the rebuilding efforts of the 2018 tornado which caused severe damage to the company.

Attendees wandered through the museum displays before and after the speeches, taking in the history of the company. Marty Hardon of Tama, owner of Hardon’s Plumbing, Electrical, Heating and Air Conditioning and Lennox dealer, said he was thrilled to see the finished product.

“It speaks a lot to the resolve of the community,” he said.

Mayor Joel Greer described the event as “phenomenal” and said it is like a rebirth for one of the biggest employers in town, with over $200 million spent in all to rebuild the Marshalltown facility, upgrade the office space and add the new museum.

T-R PHOTO BY LANA BRADSTREAM — A display about Dave Lennox, who founded the company in the late 1800s, can be seen at the Lennox Museum. The museum opened Thursday following a ribbon cutting ceremony. Lennox employees and invited guests will be able to tour the museum.

“This is newer, better and bigger than anybody could have expected,” he said. “It’s a testament to the workforce and the people who make these critical pieces of equipment that are sold around the country and around the world.”

Marshalltown Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO John Hall had already toured the museum prior to the opening and said the legacy of Lennox is obviously deeply rooted locally.

“This museum is going to be truly spectacular for the community,” he said. “I think there’s going to be a lot of folks who spend a lot of time in here.”

Hall pointed out that the attention to detail in the museum is his favorite part, such as the “heater” turning on when someone walks by.

“It really makes it fun,” he said. “It’s kind of cool, kind of cute.”

T-R PHOTO BY LANA BRADSTREAM — A display about the founders of Lennox greets people as they walk through the doors of the Lennox Museum. The museum was opened on Thursday. Lennox employees and invited guests will be able to tour the facility.

Rep. Sue Cahill (D-Marshalltown) said the museum was lovely, and Lennox had done such a wonderful job.

Cahill said her favorite aspects of the museum were the little marketing materials — the toys and cars. She also liked the display with Dave Lennox, the iconic overall-wearing character who starred in commercials and traveled to various Lennox events.

Cahill recalled going through town after the tornado, especially the damage done to Lennox and nearby employee residences. Then they had to deal with derecho damage.

“It was like, ‘Oh my gosh, how can they go through this again,'” she said. “What resilience. I have never been to the museum, so there is true joy in looking at these pieces. We are just so proud to have them in town.”

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Contact Lana Bradstream at 641-753-6611 ext. 210 or lbradstream@timesrepublican.com.