Bronze Statues In The News & Press | Randolph Rose Collection

Altrusa Sculpture Approved for Four Corners Park

This is the design selected by Altrusa for the northwest section of Four Corners Park from the Yonkers sculpture studio of Randolph Rose Collection.

Altrusa will erect a sculpture in the northeast quadrant of Four Corners Park without the controversy that faced plans for another sculpture in the southeast quadrant last fall.

The Coldwater City Council approved the installation on March 25 of the classic Randolph Rose Collection bronze sculpture "Reading Buddies."

According to past president Carrie Stout, the 47 current local members of Coldwater Altrusa International raised $19,000 for the art piece featuring a boy and a girl reading at each end of a bench with space in between for people to sit.

Stout said, "Bronze is an incredibly durable material that withstands all sorts of weather conditions, and it assures us the sculpture will be around for generations."

Altrusa presented the sculpture to the city to encourage literacy. The group gave the sculpture, "As a symbol of our commitment to the community and to its improvement, both through continued beautification of our Four Corners Park."

The group adopted that corner of Four Corners Park in 1984 and maintains flowers there.

The corner is also home to the Farmer's Market for 13 weeks during the summer.

Another sculpture proposed for the park's southeast quadrant did not receive a similar enthusiastic welcome last November.

Councilman John Petzko and his two daughters provided seed money for the fountain to honor his late wife and their mother, councilwoman Maureen Petzko.

The family suggested, with City Manager Keith Baker, a stylistic modern 15-foot sculpture by Fritz Olsen from the 2023 Grand Rapids Art Walk.

This is the design selected by Altrusa for the northwest section of Four Corners...

Honoring The Late Ward D Councilman Michael Yun

Michael Yun Custom Bench Statue

Jersey City is inviting the public to attend the unveiling ceremony of a bronze statue in celebration and in memory of late Ward D Councilman Michael Yun.

The statue, known as “Achieving the American Dream,” will be erected at 366 Central Avenue in the Heights on Saturday, April 6 at 10 a.m., four years to the day since his passing. At its most recent meeting in March, the Jersey City Municipal Council adopted a resolution accepting the statue as a donation from the family and friends of Yun. According to the resolution, the bronze statue is meant to beautify the Central Avenue streetscape while simultaneously celebrating the American Dream and Yun’s memory.

The statue was created by the Randolph Rose Collection, who has been committed to creating the finest work of bronze art for homes, gardens, and public spaces since 1972.

The bronze statue sits on a bench approximately 6 feet wide, to be unveiled on the sidewalk on Bowers Street next to 366 Central Avenue at the request of the family and friends of Yun. The resolution states that he chose to begin his American Dream in Jersey City, while sitting on a bench on the corner of Central Avenue and Bowers Street, thus the sentimental statue placement.

In the Heights, Yun embodied that dream, being a small business owner and community leader for over three decades. He eventually became a public servant, elected as the Ward D Councilman and serving from 2013 until his death in 2020. Yun was unfortunately one of the many lives lost in Jersey to COVID-19 amid the viral pandemic.

The resolution states that Yun’s memory and journey to achieve the American Dream is an inspiration to the next generation of Jersey City residents seeking to start their own dream in the City. At the March 20 meeting, Ward D Councilman Yousef Saleh said the council worked to make this happen ahead of the four-year anniversary of his passing on April 6.

“It is our solemn duty, and I know for my council colleagues who worked alongside Councilman Michael Yun, it’s an honor for us to be able to push this forward,” Saleh said. “This bronze statue… it’s going to be a welcome and beautiful presence in the Heights. Public service is very hard… his family sacrificed a lot. Michael Yun sacrificed so much for this City, and this is a beautiful way to remember him. He is the shining example of the American Dream and may he be an example for everyone else in Jersey City and inspire… anyone else to not just start a business but get into public service and serve their community.”

Jersey City is inviting the public to attend the unveiling ceremony of a...

Jersey City Honors Late Councilman Michael Yun with Bronze Statue

Michael Yun Custom Statue in Jersey City

Jersey City unveiled a bronze statue of the late Councilman Michael Yun, marking the...

Rod ‘N’ Reel Celebrates Late Owner’s Birthday

Gerald Donovan Custom Statue in Chesapeake Beach, MD

Rod ‘N’ Reel Celebrates Late Owner’s Birthday

Rod 'N' Reel Raises $15,000 For Calvert Hospice - Celebrates Late Owner's Birthday

Rod ‘N’ Reel Resort celebrated what would have been their owner’s 75^th birthday (October 31^st) by writing a check for nearly $15,000 to Calvert Hospice. That’s how much money was raised at this year’s Butterfly Walk held on September 30^thin honor of Gerald W. Donovan. Mr. Donovan served the citizens of the Town of Chesapeake Beach as councilman and mayor for 32 years. He also served as the president of the North Beach Volunteer Fire Department and operated the Rod ‘N’ Reel Resort. He passed away on July 31^st, 2021.

Gerald’s granddaughters released butterflies before the walk and Gerald’s children Mary and Wesley unveiled a statue of him sitting on a bench.

“It was heartwarming to see everyone who supported this year’s butterfly walk. Our hope is that it continues to grow year after year. Having Gerald’s sculpture unveiled that day will be a memory so dear to my heart,” says Gerald’s widow, Mary Donovan.

Gerald’s family says he would often sit on the bench outside the old entrance to Rod ‘N’ Reel Restaurant. Many people didn’t know who he was or all the things he had done for the town and Rod ‘N’ Reel, but they say he liked it that way. He enjoyed hearing how much the visitors were enjoying their time in Chesapeake Beach. You can now find his statue in the courtyard, outside the CBQ restaurant.

“Seeing so many people come by the resort, sitting on the bench and enjoying the sculpture has been wonderful. We miss him dearly but are so thankful for the time we had with him,” says Mrs. Donovan.

Rod ‘N’ Reel provided a special lunch and dinner for employees on Tuesday to celebrate Mr. Donovan’s birthday. Rod ‘N’ Reel gaming also held $75 Free Play Door Prize Drawings at every Bingo Session in his honor.

Mr. Donovan was well known and loved in the community. Even a recent Google Review of the resort mentioned his name.

“I went to the resort and was happy to see a large poster photograph of Gerald Donovan in the lobby near the elevator. I am happy to see they haven’t forgotten that hard working and generous man,” posted Roseanna Vogt.

Mr. Donovan was a visionary and was devoted to building his town and his business. Today, when you come to Rod ‘N’ Reel Resort, you can see great things are coming. Redesigning the complex was his brainchild and his legacy.

Rod ‘N’ Reel Resort celebrated what would have been their owner’s 75th birthday (October 31st)...

Ribbon Cut at New Library Park

Ribbon Cut at New Library Park

The fountain located in the new Maxwell Library Park.

A group of some 50 residents gathered on Sunday, August 20, to celebrate the opening of the new Maxwell Library Park adjacent to the main branch of the Tillamook Library in downtown Tillamook.

The park was the vision of Stu and Clarice Maxwell, longtime community volunteers, who also made the park’s creation a reality with a bequest from their estate.

“We are here because two people, Stu and Clarice Maxwell, were visionaries,” said Ruth LaFrance, president of the Tillamook Library Foundation.

Before their passing in 2014, the couple envisioned a new park that would serve as a gathering place for the people of Tillamook County. When they passed, they bequeathed over $130,000 from their estate to the library foundation, which purchased the lot on Third Street west of the library’s main branch in October 2014.

The foundation then worked on crafting plans for the park with the same architect who had designed the main branch building, Richard Turi. Turi’s designs incorporated the three elements the Maxwells had wanted to include in the park: a fountain, a place for quiet contemplation and a stage with seating area for community events.

Over the years following the property purchase, the project came together with help from a wide range of sources. Funding came from grants from the county government’s transient lodging tax revenues, the Tillamook Urban Renewal Association, private donations, bookstore sales at the foundation’s main branch location and several private foundation grants. More than 30 local businesses also contributed to the construction effort.

“Maxwell Park has always been seen as a park by the people of Tillamook County for the people of Tillamook County,” LaFrance said.

The new park came in with a total budget of $322,000 and ticked each of the desired elements off the Maxwells’ checklist. There is a fountain, featuring two children under an umbrella that rains on them, a contemplative area with benches nestled in the shade and a stage with a large seating area.

In addition to LaFrance, Tillamook County Library Director Don Allgeier, Nestucca Valley School District Superintendent Misty Wharton, Tillamook County Commissioner Erin Skaar and State Library of Oregon Program Manager Buzzy Nielsen spoke before the ribbon cutting.

Wharton said that the new park was a great example of what civic minded individuals could initiate in a community.

The fountain located in the new Maxwell Library Park. A group of...

Memorial Unveiled for Freefall Jumpers

Bronze Soldier Statue in Acuma, Arizona Unveiled

Five years ago, when Master Sgt. Nick Sheperty was killed in a training...

Library Receives Statue in Memory of Joyce Bonsell

At the installation of the statue in memory of Joyce Bonsell were family members Jill Bednar, J.D. Bonsell, Jennifer Lally and David Bonsell. Family member Shannon Bonsell was unable to be part of the ceremony at the Bel Air Library.

A statue of a child reading was donated to Harford County Public Library by the family of Joyce Bonsell. Bonsell, who died earlier this year, was a longtime supporter of the library. The statue is located in the Children’s Department of the Bel Air Library.

“My mom loved children and always spoke of the importance of education and reading for children, so having the statue in the Children’s Department means a lot to our family,” said Jill Bednar, Bonsell’s daughter.

The library was an important place to Bonsell. Her daughter said she visited the library every two weeks and checked out five books. Family and friends fondly remember her sitting in the same corner of her home sofa, drinking coffee and reading a book.

Language — and use of just the right word — was very important to her, Bednar explained. “She knew every word in the English language. She would always help us with vocab homework or anything else we needed help with when it came to words.”

“What a lovely way to honor the memory of a loved one by making a donation to the library,” said Mary Hastler, CEO of Harford County Public Library. “The statue donated by the Bonsell Family is a very welcomed addition to the Children’s Department in Bel Air. It will be an inspiration to the many children who use the library every day.”

At the installation of the statue in memory of Joyce Bonsell were family members...

New Sculpture Adorns Library Memorial Garden

Bronze Library Statue in Bel Air, Maryland

A sculpture of a boy reading was installed outside the Bel Air library A...

Harry S. Parker Athletic Complex's New Bronze Statue

Bronze Baseball Statue in Salisbury, Maryland

The Harry S. Parker Athletic Complex located in Salisbury, Maryland The Harry S....

Athletic Facilities for Those with Disabilities are Back in Orland Park

Statue of a Girl in a Wheelchair for Tinley Park's Inclusive Field

A statue near the entrance of Tinley Park's Challengers Field symbolizes the athletes the...

Memorial Day Commemorated in Richmond Hill

Soldier Battlefield Cross Bronze Statue in Richmond Hill, GA

Memorial Day Commemorated in Richmond Hill

The newly unveiled Fallen Heroes Memorial located at J.F. Gregory Park, Richmond Hill, Ga.

The City of Richmond Hill paid tribute to veterans who died in service to America on Monday during its annual Memorial Day ceremony at J. F. Gregory Park.

“I’d like to recognize what today is and that is to pay homage and honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice,” said Richmond Hill Mayor Russ Carpenter.

The event included the unveiling of a new Fallen Heroes Memorial that features a statue and plaques honoring the four fallen soldiers from Richmond Hill who have lost their lives in service.

Those honored are: Sergeant Harry Lee Boles, United States Army; Sergeant Lowry Taylor Cuthbert, United States Army; Captain Matthew C.H. Freeman, United States Marine Corps; and Petty Officer Third Class Cameron Scott Walters, United States Navy.

Some family members of the fallen soldiers were in attendance to not only honor their loved ones, but to also offer encouragement.

“Together, guided by sacred principles and power of conviction, we can and will forge a new birth of freedom and justice in America,” said Lisa Freeman, mother of Captain Matthew C. H. Freeman, a C-130 Hercules pilot who was killed in action on August 7th, 2009 in Afghanistan.

“Today we all take a moment to honor those that have made the ultimate sacrifice, whether we visit a gravesite or place flags. There are so many ways we can honor their contributions. Today should not be the only occasion to remember them. ” Lieutenant Colonel Jody Wright said.

Those interested in seeing the New Fallen Heroes Memorial can do so by visiting J. F. Gregory Park, which is open to the public daily from 8 a.m. - 10 p.m.

The newly unveiled Fallen Heroes Memorial located at J.F. Gregory Park, Richmond Hill, Ga....

Whatever Happened to Joe Altobelli?

Joe Altobelli sees custom bronze statue of himself

Whatever Happened to Joe Altobelli?

Joe Altobelli, second from left, surrounded by family, gets his first glimpse at the new statue at Frontier Field honoring him in September 2010.

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Joe Altobelli gets his first glimpse at the new statue at Frontier Field honoring him

With the World Series concluding this past week, our thoughts turn to the 1983 Series and the man known as Rochester’s “Mr. Baseball” who skippered the championship team that year.

Joe Altobelli, who still lives in the Rochester area, was the manager of the Baltimore Orioles when the team beat the Philadelphia Phillies. That remains the last time that the Orioles, the longtime affiliate of the Rochester Red Wings, won the Series.

“It was my first year managing the Orioles. It was my big season, absolutely,” the 83-year-old Altobelli said in late October.

Altobelli got the “Mr. Baseball” title for his long involvement with the Red Wings. He’s the only person who was a player, manager, general manager and announcer for the team. Altobelli is the all-time winningest manager of the Wings, with 502 victories. He led the famed 1971 team to a Junior World Series championship and the 1974 team to a Governors’ Cup win.

The man known affectionately as “Alto” has certainly made an impression on Rochester. The Red Wings inducted him as a charter member of the team’s Hall of Fame and dedicated a statue to him in 2010. The team celebrated his 80th birthday with a postgame party at Frontier Field. Altobelli’s number 26 is one of two uniform numbers retired by the team. (He chose the number because his birthday is May 26.)

During the statue dedication in 2010, the ceremony included tributes from colleagues and fellow baseball lifers like Don Zimmer and Jim Frey. In a video tribute, Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr. said, “You were always a good baseball man, Joe. But most importantly, you were always a good man.”

Altobelli appropriately was the final speaker that day. “I hope they remember a guy who played in a city he loved, and played the game with honesty, dedication and respect for all,” he said.

He didn’t mention World Series-winning manager. But local fans can’t forget.

. Joe Altobelli gets his first glimpse at the new statue at Frontier Field...

Indian Rocks Beach Adds More Public Art

This bronze manatee sculpture is just one of the wildlife-themed installations in Indian Rocks Beach.

St. Petersburg is known for its towering public sculptures and colorful murals, and Indian Rocks Beach is ready to be put on the map as an arts destination as well.

Over the last several years, Indian Rocks Beach has added bronze public sculptures to the area’s parks, including a manatee rendering at the 5th Avenue Pocket Park and a sea turtle at the Indian Rocks Beach Nature Preserve. Sometime this fall, the city will install another art piece near the Pinellas County Beach Access Park.

What will the bronze be?

“That’s a surprise,” said Indian Rocks Beach office administrator Lorin Kornijtschuk, “We want to be a city full of art.”

The sculpture, like the others, is funded by the Indian Rocks Beach Homeowners Association. This particular piece is being custom made by New York-based sculptor Randolph Rose Collection.

Indian Rocks Beach is also asking community members and business owners to contribute their own art to the city-wide art project.

“The city would like to encourage owners of commercial properties in Indian Rocks Beach to invest in public art on their own property. This will bring additional attention to the business and become a part of the public art effort,” City Manager Brently Gregg Mims wrote in a press release. “The City of Indian Rocks Beach looks forward to seeing and recognizing the creative art efforts of our businesses. Working together, we can continue this city initiated public art effort.”

This bronze manatee sculpture is just one of the wildlife-themed installations in Indian Rocks...

Mayor Honored with Bronze Sculpture

Mayor Honored with Bronze Sculpture

Grand Blanc Mayor Susan Soderstrom realized another one of her dreams for the city in August when the DPW installed a large bronze sculpture in Physicians Park. “I had seen this sculpture a while ago and I just loved it,” Soderstrom said of the piece entitled Arbor Children. “I just loved the floral jump rope and the kids playing. I thought it was perfect for the park. I’m thrilled about it.” The sculpture depicts a boy and a girl playing with a floral garland. The Randolph Rose Collection of Yonkers, New York, produced the sculpture. The Soderstrom family purchased it and gifted it to the city.

A plaque that accompanies the sculpture indicates the family’s intention was to honor Soderstrom’s years of service as a member of the City Council from 1999 to 2011, and as mayor since 2011. Soderstrom said the installation is part of the overall beautification of the city, and she hopes it inspires others to do the same. “I hope it brings a lot of smiles to the families who utilize the park,” she said. The sculpture is located near the playground and splash pad.

Grand Blanc Mayor Susan Soderstrom realized another one of her dreams for the city...

Clarkstown to Unveil D-Day Statue at New City Community Center

Battlefield Cross Bronze Memorial Statue

Clarkstown to Unveil D-Day Statue at New City Community Center

The memorial titled Fallen Soldier Memorial -Battle Field Cross will be dedicate on Thursday, June 6, 2019, at Clarkstown's Street Community Center in New City.

The Fallen Soldier Memorial - Battlefield Cross - at Clarkstown's Street Community Center

NEW CITY — A sculpture honoring those who served during the D-Day invasion will be unveiled Thursday at Clarkstown's Street Community Center.

The statue made from a bronze cast by the Randolph Rose Collection of Yonkers is called "The Fallen Soldier Memorial-Battlefield Cross."

The sculpture is of a combat helmet that rests on a rifle stuck in the ground next to a pair of combat boots. A set of dog tags hang from the rifle. It is a depiction of grave markers left for soldiers buried in the field.

The statue, which cost the town $3,950, stands about 4 feet high and weighs 150 pounds.

George Hoehmann, the Clarkstown supervisor, has invited several veterans of D-Day — the day 75 years ago when the Allied forces landed on Normandy Beach in France during World War II — to be part of Thursday's unveiling ceremonies.

Hoehmann called the new memorial "a lasting tribute to all who have fallen in battle from Clarkstown and a reminder of all that the Greatest Generation sacrificed to ensure liberty and freedom for the world."

"The Fallen Soldier Memorial-Battlefield Cross" that stands outside the Street Community Center in New City, June 5, 2019

The tribute, which stands beside a plaque that honors all of the town's veterans, is part of the final phase of the community center's $4 million renovation.

Street Community Center, where three Clarkstown senior citizens clubs meet, also houses the town's Hall of Heroes. The hallway recently added murals depicting soldiers in armed conflicts stretching from the American Revolution through the War on Terror, and a large image of the American flag.

The Fallen Soldier Memorial - Battlefield Cross - at Clarkstown's Street Community Center NEW...

IRB Action 2000 Donates Bronze Manatee Sculpture

IRB Action 2000 Donates Bronze Manatee Sculpture

Indian Rocks Beach Mayor, Cookie Kennedy & IRB Action 2000 President Diane Flagg with the bronze manatee sculpture.

INDIAN ROCKS BEACH — City officials and members of the nonprofit community group IRB Action 2000 unveiled IRB’s newest public artwork Aug. 3 at the Indian Rocks Beach Nature Preserve.

The bronze sculpture, which is from the Randolph Rose Collection, depicts a manatee rising from a wave and sits in a shaded area right near the entrance to the 10-acre park at 903 Gulf Blvd.

During the brief ceremony, Mayor Cookie Kennedy thanked the organization for donating $8,500 for the piece, which is the fourth public art installation in town, with a fifth scheduled for this fall, according to the mayor.

“I think we’re incredibly grateful to have the support of IRB A2K behind us,” Kennedy told the small crowd, which included IRB A2K President Diane Flagg, board members and volunteers as well as City Commissioner Phil Hanna. “These sculptures, one is more beautiful than the other, and I’m excited for the dedication of the next one at the city’s main (17th Avenue) park this fall.”

When it was her turn to speak, Flagg returned the praise to the city.

“Having the city as our partner helping us do things that have a lasting effect in the community is impressive,” she said. “We have a lot of volunteers and supporters who help us throughout the year, and the results of our hard work and dedication are going to be remembered for many years. So, thanks to (City Manager) Gregg (Mims) and the city because an organization like ours couldn’t operate and do what we do without their help.”

After the speeches, the group gathered around the sculpture for the ribbon-cutting and a quick photo session, where Kennedy and Flagg were cajoled into kissing the bronze manatee, making it an official member of the IRB community, according to the mayor.

“It looks awesome, and it’s in a great spot,” she said of the piece’s perch atop a bed of mulch under a large shade tree. “I can’t thank IRB A2K enough for all they do for the community, and I want to thank city staff and Gregg and everyone who worked so hard to make this happen. It’s a great job by all involved.”

According to Flagg, she and the rest of the IRB A2K crew are in the middle of planning the latest edition of the annual Oktoberfest, which is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 8, from 12-6 p.m. at Kolb Park, and working on the upcoming release of the 2023 Plein Aire Cottage Artists calendar, among other projects.

Indian Rocks Beach Mayor, Cookie Kennedy & IRB Action 2000 President Diane Flagg with...

Flower Mound Parks Projects Move Forward

Flower Mound Parks Projects Move Forward

Rheudasil Park is named for the town’s first mayor Bob Rheudasil.

Rheudasil Park reopened with the snip of a large pair of scissors and fanfare from nearly 200 people during its Aug. 27 ribbon-cutting ceremony in Flower Mound.

“This incredible new space is the result of many years of planning and foresight from our Town Council and board members,” Mayor Derek France said. “We knew this park could offer so much more to our residents.”

The park underwent $2.9 million in renovations over the course of eight years, and it leads the way for several more parks projects that are slated to open or start construction later this year. In addition to Rheudasil Park, the Flower Mound Parks and Recreation Department plans to open Canyon Falls Park and start construction on Peters Colony Memorial Park.

Canyon Falls Park is being built as the western portion of Flower Mound continues to develop and to meet the Rheudasil Park reopened with the snip of a large pair of scissors and fanfare from nearly 200 people during its Aug. 27 ribbon-cutting ceremony in Flower Mound.

“This incredible new space is the result of many years of planning and foresight from our Town Council and board members,” Mayor Derek France said. “We knew this park could offer so much more to our residents.”

Rheudasil Park, named for the town’s first Mayor Bob Rheudasil, sits on 10.02 acres of land that was deeded to the town in 1987.

“It’s one of our older parks, and it hadn’t had very many upgrades over the years. A lot of stuff had reached its lifecycle,” Jennings said.

Before the renovations, which were funded through a portion of the town’s sales tax revenue, the park included a playground, a pavilion, a basketball pad and the pond.

Pond dredging started in January 2018 and finished later that year. The town awarded the construction bid to North Rock Construction LLC in March 2021.

Teresa Thomason, the Flower Mound Parks Board chair, said the park will be a place for family gatherings.

“The design team and general contractor created a space we can all be proud of. The beautiful park truly has something for everyone,” she said. “I know our residents will appreciate and enjoy the park for another 40 years.”

Rheudasil Park is named for the town’s first mayor Bob Rheudasil. Rheudasil Park reopened...

'Celebrate Diversity' Statue Unveiled in Downtown Clarksburg, WV

Children's Bronze School Statue Unveiled

'Celebrate Diversity' Statue Unveiled in Downtown Clarksburg, WV

The "Celebrate Diversity" statue, a privately funded bronze statue depicting four small children holding hands, is located on the front lawn of the Clarksburg-Harrison Public Library.

CLARKSBURG — Clarksburg city officials unveiled a new addition to the downtown landscape Friday.

The “Celebrate Diversity” statue, a privately funded bronze statue depicting four small children holding hands, is located on the front lawn of the Clarksburg-Harrison Public Library.

Plans for the statue, which cost around $15,000, have been in the works for over a year, Clarksburg Mayor Cathy Goings said.

“We actually saw this bronze statue at a National League of Cities conference,” she said. “The city was trying to figure out how we could pay for the particular statue. And one day I was at the library board meeting and I mentioned it to the board members, and a couple of them said they would like to contribute. So, to make a long story short, we ended up getting it fully funded through private donations.”

The statue is representative of the city’s diverse population, Goings said.

“In light of everything that’s going on in the country today, we thought it was appropriate to have this statue here in the heart of the city,” she said. “Clarksburg is a very diverse community.”

Clarksburg Vice Mayor Jim Malfregeot said the statue is yet another improvement to the downtown area.

“It’s absolutely beautiful,” he said. “This is centrally located, and the majority of the people going to the Robinson Grand Performing Arts Center will pass this way. It will be viewed by many, and it’s just outstanding.”

The statue is the most recent downtown beautification effort undertaken by the city, Goings said.

“We’re trying to do beautification projects throughout the city,” she said. “The Robinson Grand Performing Arts Center is the catalyst behind all of this. All of this is to clean up our downtown area and make it more presentable.”

The "Celebrate Diversity" statue, a privately funded bronze statue depicting four small children holding...

Helping Hands Honored

Helping Hands Honored

An often under-recognized helping hand (or should that be “helpful paw”?) was given a thoughtful nod by members of the Eau Claire community. On July 25, a bronze service dog statue was dedicated at UW-Eau Claire’s recently constructed Centennial Hall.

The 150-pound life-sized Labrador retriever, complete with a harness, stands in recognition of Seeing Eye Dogs and other assistance canines near the Student Success Center, which includes the Services for Students with Disabilities office.

In addition to honoring the service animals, the statue’s name, “Juno,” is significant for those who raise and train such animals: The name describes an owner’s first experience walking with his or her companion.

For former UWEC senior psychologist and project leader Katherine Schneider, the statue is a celebration of 41 years of partnership with service dogs. She said people and pups of all ages flocked to the noon gathering to pet the regal-looking statue and read its Braille inscriptions.

“Interdependence was present all the way along,” Schneider said. “From my finding willing partners to help fund the sculpture to various offices on the campus working together to get the statue placed and the dedication event publicized and carried out.”

Schneider said Chancellor James Schmidt, along with “a former student partnered with a mobility service dog” shared words on subjects like the relationship between dog and owner and respect for the disabled to a crowd of over 150, including seven service dogs ranging from pups in training to to Schneider’s own retired guide dog.

The sculpture, cast and designed in Yonkers, N.Y., was made possible by donations on behalf of Dr. Schneider, the L.E. Phillips Family Foundation, the Presto Foundation, and fellow emerita professors Dr. Sally Web and Dr. Vicki Lord Larson.

In addition to publishing novels on the subject of living with disability for both children and adults, Schneider maintains an active blog on which she welcomes the aging, disabled, and service dog users.

An often under-recognized helping hand (or should that be “helpful paw”?) was given a...

Bronze Cow Statue Set-up to Honor Record-Breaking Cow

Bronze Cow Statue by Randolph Rose Collection

GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY, Mich. -- She was a world champion cow who made headlines...

Dolphin Sculpture Unveiled at IRB Park

Sculptures are new in Indian Rocks Beach INDIAN ROCKS BEACH — The city has...

Bicycle Boy Bronze Statue

Daron and Lisa pose at the statue of the young man on a bike at the North Little Rock side of the bridge.

Last weekend I got my first chance to ride over the new Clinton Library Park Bridge. It was a wonderful ride. On the North Little Rock side I came across a bronze statue of a boy on a bicycle. It was an interesting thing to see, obviously not permanently in place but fitting as a welcome from the North Little Rock area to the new bicycle/pedestrian bridge. I took a photo of it, my wife Lisa and friend Daron posing in front. Other people seemed to congregate around it as they were taking a break from the crowds on the bridge.

I was curious about it so I called North Little Rock Mayor, Pat Hay’s office to find out the story on the statue. The first thing that Mayor Hays said was, “We like public art in North Little Rock.” He then went on to explain that some time ago North Little Rock Alderman, Murry Witcher saw the piece on sale while visiting an art dealer and asked the mayor if he was interested. The mayor decided to go ahead and purchase the statue for the city with no placement in mind. He said they paid approximately $5000 for the statue. Just days before the dedication of the Clinton Library Bridge the mayor had the public works department add it to the temporary decorations for the North Little Rock landing of the bridge at Riverfront Drive and Virginia Kelley Drive. I asked when it would be placed permanently and he said that he wasn’t sure at this point if it would be staying. The city plans to have a landscape architect design a small park area there and at that point they would decide if it would remain. He envisions a fountain there (it would be nice to have both). If it doesn’t, he said they would find another appropriate spot for it.

During the day of the dedication I saw quite a few people stop to take their photos in front of “Bicycle Boy” with the bridge in the background. I hope it stays there but as Mayor Hays said, “There are a lot of places in North Little Rock where it would be appropriate.” Ride on bicycle boy, ride on.

Daron and Lisa pose at the statue of the young man on a bike...

Hmong-Lao Veterans Memorial Unveiled

After the unveiling of the Hmong Vietnam War Veterans Memorial people gathered to view the statue and read the descriptions.

In the early 1960s, the Vietnam War raged and the threat of communism spread across southeast Asia. A 1962 peace conference in Geneva had declared the Kingdom of Laos — a neighboring country of Vietnam — neutral, but communist North Vietnam's continued presence in the country prompted the U.S. to become more involved.

The U.S. increased its military aid to the area and the CIA became engaged in the Secret War.

The CIA began recruiting ethnic peoples in Laos, and the Hmong were among the new recruits. Thousands of Hmong men and boys were armed and trained to form a special guerrilla unit that was tasked with rescuing fallen U.S. pilots and blocking the dangerous Ho Chi Minh Trail — North Vietnam's supply route to their allies, the Viet Cong in South Vietnam.

The slate that originally was meant to display names of veterans living in Marathon County now tells a detailed story of the Hmong people and their history.

A bronze life-size sculpture of three soldiers rests on top of a 6-foot-tall black granite base. The sculpture depicts two Hmong soldiers, one dressed in traditional Hmong attire and the other in military uniform, helping an American pilot to safety.

The back of the Hmong-Lao Veterans Memorial Unveiled

The front of the monument describes that it is dedicated to all Hmong and Lao soldiers who served in the Secret War and it honors their courage, bravery and loyalty in defense of liberty and democracy. The back of the memorial describes the work of the veterans to aid the Americans.

It is estimated that more than 30,000 of the 300,000 Hmong living in Laos died as a result of their involvement in the war.

"This memorial is about us; it tells everyone what we did," said Capt. Wang Sao Yang, 77. He served from 1960 to 1975 in a communications unit using radios to dispatch artillery coordinates to bombing missions. In 1976 he immigrated to the U.S. eventually settling in Wausau.

While the memorial honors veterans, it also educates the Hmong youth and the greater community about the Hmong people's sacrifice during the Secret War, the veterans said.

After the unveiling of the Hmong Vietnam War Veterans Memorial people gathered to view...

14 Bronze Sculptures Await Installation in Fort Morgan

Fort Morgan as 14 bronze sculptures ready and waiting for installation in Fort Morgan parks and facilities in coming months, according to Fort Morgan Museum Curator Brian Mack.

“We’re to the exciting part of the process, I think, actual installation,” he said. “So we’re kind of deciding what kind of pedestals to put them on, what kind of plaques, what kind of information will be contained in that.”

The sculptures are the result of the Fort Morgan City Council’s plan to have more public art displayed around the city.

“The intent was to install these sculptures throughout the community in an effort to increase the culture of arts in Fort Morgan,” Fort Morgan Library & Museum Director Chandra McCoy said.

The council had budgeted $100,000 for that purpose in 2016, but time ran out on that budget sooner than city officials could decide how to spend it.

The council then entrusted that $100,000 to the Fort Morgan Heritage Foundation with an agreement that the foundation find appropriate ways to use the city’s money for either procuring or commissioning public art projects.

A committee of foundation members met many times over about six months in 2017 before deciding to go with recommending purchasing bronze sculptures from the Randolph Rose Collection, with plaques to be placed beside them detailing the connection the artwork’s subject was showing to Fort Morgan and Morgan County.

Those sculptures arrived at the city in late 2017 and early 2018, and city staff has been working to get everything ready for installing them in various city parks and facilities, according to Mack and Fort Morgan Library/Museum Director Chandra McCoy.

One of the first sculptures that will be installed will be one celebrating diversity. It portrays “four children of different races holding hands,” McCoy explained. That sculpture will be placed on the concrete pad in the southwest corner of City Park that previously held the Dinky train engine.

Two other sculptures that are going to be installed in City Park involve benches and books, both references to the library and learning. One will go by the giant chess board and the other will go by the window that looks into the Museum Gift Shop near the west entrance to the library/museum.

“They’re actually the simplest because the concrete pads were already there,” Mack said Friday of why these three would go in first. “It’s just a matter of securing them. I hope they get started on that soon. Everybody’s getting busy.”

Other sculptures portray a skateboarder, a tennis player, a child fishing, children playing baseball, a golfer, a boy swimming, boy and his dog and a dog by itself and more. The two sculptures featuring dogs likely will be located, one each, in the city’s two dog parks in Gateway Park and Fulton Heights Park. The ones of baseball players could go at Legion Field or other ball fields. Several sculptures could be placed in Riverside Park, perhaps the tennis player one in Optimist Park, and the one of the skateboarder is likely to be installed in Brenda Joy Park near the new skate park, according to Mack.

Final placement of the sculptures will depend upon what types of foundations or bases will be needed and what locations wind up best suited for the particular sculptures, he said.

Fort Morgan Parks Department employees are working with museum and city carpentry staff to make the arrangements for the installations of the sculptures, Mack said.

The foundation spent $72,707 on the 14 sculptures, which included $4,757 in shipping costs.

Mack said he thought the sculptures were “a good use of the city’s money by the Heritage Foundation,” and he credited the foundation for finding the Randolph Rose Collection.

The sculptures that arrived were what was promised to the city, he said, with the bronze sculptures being OK for placing outdoors.

“They’re manufactured to withstand weather,” Mack said. “You see lots of bronze inside, but I think they’re great outside.”

The remaining city funds the Heritage Foundation still holds are being used for the materials for installation of the sculptures and related plaques, as well as for a tile mosaic Brush artist Joe Marler is creating. A picture of the plan for that mosaic is on display by the circulation desk in the library.

Fort Morgan as 14 bronze sculptures ready and waiting for installation in...

Hoffmann Hospice Unveils God Bless America Statue & Garden

The staff at the Hoffmann Hospice showed off their new God Bless America statue...

New Additions to Veterans Freedom Park Dedicated

Dozens of people gathered on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2015 for the dedication of new monuments and a sculpture at Veterans Freedom Park in downtown Logansport.

The park, owned by Logansport Municipal Utilities, is located at the corner of 6th and Market Streets, south of the Logansport City Building, where the H.W. Gossard factory once stood.

Last November, the Roosters celebrated the park’s first phase – the installation of flags representing various branches of the military.

When we posted a photo of the flags at the park being raised, Logansport High School government teacher Kasia (Bannon) Minnick commented on the post on our Facebook page.

“I have been praying for Logansport to welcome a Veterans Park for several years,” she wrote. “This is the location I had picked out. Thank you, Cass County Roosters!”

In April, local sorority Tri Kappa announced a community-wide fundraising effort to help grant “Kasia’s Wish.”

“I’m really glad the Roosters have placed the flags in the Veterans Freedom Park at 6th and Market, but I’d really like to see something there that speaks to children, to let them know the importance of patriotism and honoring veterans,” Minnick was quoted as saying.

Minnick, who was battling stage 4 colon cancer, passed away on June 7.

That month, granite monuments dedicated to each branch of the military were installed in the center of the park.

This week, the “I Love My Country” sculpture purchased with funds raised by the community was installed at the southeast corner of Veterans Freedom Park, along Market Street.

A ceremony to dedicate the park’s newest additions was held Saturday, Oct. 10.

Dawn Fisher spoke on behalf of Tri Kappa and said Minnick had left the community with a “homework assignment.”

A plaque bearing this quote from Kasia Minnick will be installed near the sculpture:

“One of the best gifts we can give our children is a love of family and a love of our country. We must teach our children the importance of respecting and honoring those who have served.”

Dozens of people gathered on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2015 for the dedication of...

Connecticut State Police Immortalize K-9

A statue of a black lab in the likeness of Mattie, a K-9 that served with the Connecticut State Police for six years, sits a top a memorial built outside of the Connecticut Fire Academy in Windsor Locks.

The Connecticut State Police have unveiled a statue in Windsor Locks honoring the memory of a black lab who served from 1986 to 1992 in the K-9 unit.

Mattie, the world’s first laboratory-validated acceleration dog, used her nose to detect arson in over 400 cases.

“There’s several scenes that we went on with Mattie where we’d have an indication very early on that we had an incendiary fire because of her alerts,” retired Sgt. Jim Butterworth said.

Butterworth retired from the state police in 1995 -- a year after Mattie died.

“[The cases] still required a full and professional investigation to be conducted, but having the early indicators that allowed us to pursue a criminal investigation more rapidly led to quite a few arrests because we were investigating [it] as a crime right at the very beginning,” Butterworth said.

Before he was consulted on the O.J. Simpson case and the murder of Jon Benet Ramsey, famed forensic scientist Dr. Henry Lee worked with the Connecticut State Police. Lee said Mattie was far more accurate than a device previously used in accelerant detection called a gas chromatography sniffer.

“That always give a false positive,” Lee said. “A sewer system, leaking gas all give a positive. But Mattie can tell the differences. Also sometimes, detergent can give a false positive after burn. But Mattie can tell the differences.”

The memorial includes a black lab recreated in Mattie’s honor that looks over a walkway etched with the names of other K-9s in the explosives unit. Lee was one of the 200 donors that made the project possible.

A statue of a black lab in the likeness of Mattie, a K-9 that...

National Orphan Train Complex Unveils Statue in Jamestown

Randolph Rose Collection Bronze Fishing Statue

On Tuesday evening the National Orphan Train Complex (NOTC) in Concordia unveiled its first-ever...

New Orphan Train Rider Statue Installed In Concordia City Park

New Orphan Train Rider Statue Installed In Concordia City Park

Bronze Children's Statue in Concordia, Kansas

A New National Orphan Train Statue in the Concordia City Park Honors Orphan Train Rider Mary Ring and was Installed in Loving Memory of Longtime Concordia Resident Betty Losh

A statue honoring an Orphan Train rider was installed in memory of a longtime Concordia resident in the Concordia City Park on Saturday, April 29th.

The statue was installed in loving memory of longtime Concordia resident Betty Losh by her daughters, Melanie Lorenzo and Janeen James. Betty passed away in 2022 at the age of 84.

In December 1980, Betty graduated from Kansas University with an accounting degree. She moved to Concordia, Kansas, to work with Kennedy & Coe as a certified public accountant until her retirement in 2002. Betty was a member of the Wesleyan Church and Standing Stones Sunday School Class and was active in church events, cooking many meals, filling and cleaning thousands of Easter eggs, making popcorn and serving drinks, and was a founding member of Wesleyan Ladies.

Community was important to Betty. She volunteered for American Red Cross Blood drives, made pies for the Hospital Auxiliary, served as treasurer many years for the Cloud County Historical Society Museum, and worked local elections. Betty enjoyed traveling, playing and teaching bridge several times a week, golfing, all types of puzzles, gardening, but most of all she enjoyed spending time with her friends and family.

The statue honors Orphan Train Rider Mary Ring, who was born to Michael Ring and Mary Geary in Walpole, Massachusetts in 1887. Two years later, in September 1889, her mother left her in the care of the New England Home for Little Wanderers.

In October 1889, she was aboard a train headed to Kokomo, Indiana. Mary Ring was taken in by James and Addie Blacklidge. James was a successful attorney, and the Blacklidges provided a good home for Mary, who adopted their last name as her own.

Mary had a love for music, and attended many social events and clubs as a young woman. She attended the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music and Rockford College. She also traveled around the world with her parents in 1912. When they returned from their trip, Mary married Eldo Wagner. Eldo and Mary moved to Indianapolis, where they raised their three children.

Mary was very active in her church, volunteer groups, the PTA, scout groups, and educational clubs. She also served on the boards of various institutions, such as the Florence Crittenden Home for unwed Mothers, the Indianapolis School Board, and the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. Mary lived a full life and died in 1981.

A New National Orphan Train Statue in the Concordia City Park Honors Orphan Train...

40th Orphan Train Rider Statue Unveiled in Concordia, Kansas

The 40th Orphan Train Rider statue in Cloud County was unveiled Friday, October 28th outside the new North Central Kansas Medical Center in Concordia. The bronze statue, created by the Randolph Rose Collection in Yonkers, New York, honors riders Edward and Harold Panzer.

On April 23, 1918, Edward, Harold, Robert and Jack Panzer arrived at the Happy Valley School in Pomona, New York. A year later, their youngest brother, George, joined them after their father's death. In October 1922, all five boys were placed on an orphan train to Tekemah, Nebraska.

Edward Panzer was placed with Lester Lotz, who overworked him and did not allow him to attend school. Eventually, Edward left the Lotz farm and returned to school, studying to become a doctor. After graduating college, he attended a medical school in Lincoln, Nebraska, and finally graduated with his degree in medicine in June 1940. When World War II broke out, Dr. Edward Panzer joined the Navy and served in the Pacific Theatre. After the war, he settled in California where he worked as a doctor.

Harold Panzer was placed with Earl Babbett. The Babbetts gave Harold a wonderful education; he attended Nebraska Wesleyan University and the University of Nebraska. He graduated with his degree in medicine in June 1937. Dr. Harold Panzer set up a practice in Ainsworth, Nebraska, and later built a hospital in Bassett, Nebraska, with his younger brother Jack. Harold also acquired a pilot's license and a small plane. On one occasion, a farmer was seriously injured in a hay baler accident. Harold did what he could for the man at his hospital, and then flew him to Omaha, 250 miles away.

Both Edward and Harold were wonderful examples of courage, fortitude and determination, and served their patients well.

The statue at the North Central Kansas Medical Center is sponsored by the family of Dr. Wayne Fowler, Sr.

The 40th Orphan Train Rider statue in Cloud County was unveiled Friday, October...

Hampton High School Remembrance Garden Gets Bronze Statues

Hampton High School unveils Phase II of Remembrance Garden

Over the summer, the Hampton Alumni Remembrance Garden Committee completed Phase II of the Remembrance Garden project at Hampton High School. This project included the installation of a bronze statue of a white Labrador, representing the beloved Talbot dog. The new addition now stands alongside the "Fly Away" memorial statue, which depicts a little girl setting a bird free with her hands raised in the air.

During a School Board meeting in August 2022, Mr. Scott Docherty (Class of 1974) presented the visionary plans for Phase II of the Remembrance Garden project. Mr. Docherty's class holds the distinction of being the first to attend all four years at the newly-built Hampton High School. In his presentation, Mr. Docherty expressed the significance of the Talbot dog in the community's history.

“The Talbot dog was all white … a hardworking hunting dog,” said Mr. Docherty. “It was loyal, gentle, kind, and high spirited. There’s a dog that fits that exact image right now, and that is a white Lab.”

HTSD extends its profound gratitude to the Hampton Alumni Remembrance Garden Committee for generously funding this project and for their commitment to maintaining the beauty of the garden outside Hampton High School. The garden was originally dedicated in July 2014, and with the recent addition of the white Lab statue, it continues to serve as a space for remembrance and reflection.

The class of 1974 received approval from the Hampton Township School Board to plan and install a Class of 1974 Memorial Statue at the Hampton High School.

Representatives from the class appeared before the Board in early November 2013, seeking approval to place a memorial to the classmates they have lost over the years somewhere on District property, preferably at the High School. Scott Docherty, a 1974 graduate, represented his class in asking the Board for permission to establish the memorial. The Class of 1974 was the first class to attend all four years at the newly-built High School.

Mr. Docherty told Board members that his classmates already had raised $4,000, which was enough to purchase and install a memorial statue. The statue, called “Fly Away,” depicts a little girl with her hands up in the air prepared to set a bird free that she is holding.

“This statue symbolizes that we had to let go of our deceased classmates,” Mr. Docherty said. “But the girl has a happy face, which represents the good memories of the time spent in Hampton’s esteemed halls that we shared with those who are now gone.”

Mr. Docherty said they intend to seek donations and participation from other graduating classes at Hampton who wish to add to the memorial. He said alumni who have been part of the initial plan thus far envision creating an entire memorial garden, with new pieces being added each year as monies are raised to pay for it.

Board members thanked the Class of 1974 for its commitment and dedication to the project. The Board also decided to form a Hampton Alumni Remembrance Garden Committee to help establish parameters for future donations, projects and funding. Part of the committee’s duties will be to establish a trust fund for donations raised to pay for future maintenance or additions to the memorial.

The garden was officially dedicated - and the first two items placed there - on July 12, 2014.

Hampton High School unveils Phase II of Remembrance Garden Over the summer, the...

Memorial Dog Park Opens In the memory of Sara Elizabeth Low

Memorial Dog Park Opens In the memory of Sara Elizabeth Low

When Batesville Mayor Rick Elumbaugh stepped to the podium last Friday to begin the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newest addition to the city’s park system, he was greeted with not only lots of cheers from the crowd, but also plenty of excited barks.

The mayor, local dignitaries, and a few canine friends were presiding over the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the Sara Elizabeth Low Memorial Dog Park.

Town Park Unveils Bronze Dog Park Statue

A large, rolling section of the Batesville Parks system that sits across from Riverside Park and the municipal golf course, the park is a memorial to Low, the Batesville native who died serving as a flight attendant on American Airlines Flight 11 on Sept. 11, 2001.

Designed by Batesville Parks Director Jeff Owens, the park’s completion was due to the fundraising efforts of many throughout the community, in particular, local pharmacist Steve Bryant, as well as from the contributions and efforts of other local businesses and city departments.

The project was completely funded by donations from the general public, Owens said at the ceremony.

The park features two sections: one for small dogs and one for large dogs; plenty of room to roam and run; and water fountains for both dog and owner.

Alyson Low, Sara’s sister, also spoke at the ceremony, detailing her sister’s longtime love of animals and the comfort they provide.

“This space represents joy, and companionship, and love — all of which play such an important role in quality of life for both two and four-legged critters. This dog park will be a wonderful new asset to our hometown and the opportunity that it provides for both fresh air and cheerful interaction for both dogs and their people.”

“It’s also meaningful because it’s a reminder of a bright spot in the shadows of lower Manhattan that has given my parents and me an emotional respite after the memorial ceremonies at Ground Zero,” said Low.

“On our walk back to the hotel, we stop at a dog park along the promenade by the Hudson River, and watch the dogs romp in the shallow pools, play keep-away with tennis balls, and do what dogs do best: exist in the moment with a purity of heart. It’s always helped lift our mood and remind us of the good things in life. And the good things in life would still be very much wanted by Sara for us all — her family, her friends, and her hometown.

“It’s my family’s hope that for those who happen to pass by on a day when the shadows in their lives are long, a glance at the dogs rolling in the grass and running with abandon will be a bright spot for them as well.

“It’s a fitting, dynamic, happy tribute to her and to all of those who were lost on Sept. 11 and the celebration of a pet so many of them loved and laughed at. How wonderful to see our hometown constantly outdo itself, providing special experiences for its residents.

“In the memory of Sara Elizabeth Low…enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!”

When Batesville Mayor Rick Elumbaugh stepped to the podium last Friday to begin...

Surprise Statue Unveiled at Redevelopment Dedication

Bronze Statue of Mayor Affronti with Bronze Plaque

Surprise Statue Unveiled at Redevelopment Dedication

A statue of Temple Terrace Mayor Joe Affronti was revealed as a surprise to the public and Affronti himself during a Dec. 1 dedication of the Main Street park and gazebo in the downtown redevelopment.

Reporters had been told to expect a special surprise, but that was the only information anyone had been given.

At a in the downtown redevelopment area Dec. 1, an object shrouded in a black cloth was uncovered to reveal a statue of Temple Terrace Mayor Joe Affronti.

Before the statue was unveiled, Mike Vlass, of Vlass Temple Terrace, the developer of the project, announced that Main Street will actually be called “Arts Center Drive” to reflect the Arts and Education Center that is planned between the road and 56th Street. He also said the 1-acre park will be called “Civic Park.”

After city officials and dignitaries cut the ceremonial ribbon for the park and gazebo, Vlass and his partners, Mike Lant and Mark Sneed, pulled the cloth off the statue.

Affronti’s jaw dropped, and those around him gave him hugs and handshakes. Affronti teared up as Vlass read a plaque at the base of the statue.

“We Italians get a little emotional,” Affronti said later.

The statue was designed by Jordon Rose of The Randolph Rose Collection and pays homage to Affronti’s support of the redevelopment initiative, according to a press release. The statue was created from photographs provided to Rose. It weighs 300 pounds.

“This tribute recognizes Mayor Affronti for his abiding commitment and dedication to the City of Temple Terrace and its citizens and his solidifying vision and unwavering pursuit of the redevelopment of this site and the creation of a true downtown for Temple Terrace—its ‘Place,’” Vlass said in the release.

Affronti said he was shocked when he saw his likeness.

“It was just a big surprise, and I am deeply honored and humbled by it,” he said.

The park and gazebo are meant to be a place where Temple Terrace residents and visitors can gather, relax and have events.

The park was designed by Site Solutions, which is based in Atlanta, the release states. The gazebo is 540 square feet in size and has a tiled roof. The park also features a mosaic-tiled fountain, live oak trees, shade trellises and outdoor seating. The design reflects the city’s 1920s Mediterranean Revival architecture.

“The park and gazebo reflect the quality and attention to detail inherent in the city’s vision for downtown Temple Terrace,” Vlass said in the release.

A statue of Temple Terrace Mayor Joe Affronti was revealed as a surprise to...

Akron’s Heisman Moment 130 Years Ago Helped Shape Our Beloved Game

Bronze John Heisman Statue by Randolph Rose

Akron’s Heisman Moment 130 Years Ago Helped Shape Our Beloved Game

The intriguing tactician who would change the game of football forever had a spell in the future Rubber City, delighting Akronites with “scientific” football before his rise to fame.

The Akron Zips football team has not had an overwhelming amount of success since it joined the FBS in 1987, winning just one MAC Championship and one bowl game in 36 seasons. Since then, the Zips have had just seven winning seasons total. These unfortunate statistics may lead us to forget about the school’s 19th century football success that included one of the most important seasons in all of college football history.

130 years ago Akron — then Buchtel College — struck gold when it hired John Heisman as its second head coach. The hire meant the first winning season in team history as Heisman used his football prowess to power the 1893 squad to five wins in a seven-game season. Because Heisman was constantly innovating while coaching, the 1893 season proved to play a big role in shaping the sport of football into what it is today.

Heisman, a Cleveland native who played at Brown and Penn in his college days, only had one year of coaching under his belt before he joined Buchtel — but it was a pretty good one. At 23 years old, he led Oberlin College to an undefeated 7-0 record in 1892. The tremendous season included a blowout win over a team in central Ohio that now calls themselves the Buckeyes and a close victory over Michigan in Ann Arbor.

Despite being younger than many of today’s fifth and sixth-year seniors, Heisman had already built up such a name for himself as a coach in the blossoming world of American football, his arrival in the Rubber City was major headline news. The Akron Beacon Journal at the time reported “a great rejoicing among students” following the announcement that he’d become the school’s football and baseball coach in January 1893.

The intriguing tactician who would change the game of football forever had a spell...

Randolph Rose Artwork Dedicated at Pines Park

A Randolph Rose art piece was unveiled on Wednesday, Oct. 26 in Pines Park...

New Children's Garden Dedicated on Rainy Saturday

Children's Bronze Garden Statue for Indianola Buxton Park

Marshall Traster and Vernon Traster cut the ribbon marking the opening to the new Indianola Buxton Park Children's Garden. The family of Lynn and Jim Cooper and their daughter Patricia Traster gave the initial gift the led to the new garden. Others sho supported hte project were the Indianola Community Foundation, Indianola Park Friends, Warren County Philanthropic Partnership, Ackworth Garden Club, Indianola Tour of Homes and Ray and Joanne Walton.

Indianola has always held happy memories for Andrea Warnken. Learning to ride bikes, land cartwheels and walk to Buxton Park are coveted flashbacks.

Her family is now honoring that love. Children of all ages will enjoy a new addition to Buxton Park, in memory of Warnken's grandparents, Lynn and Jim Cooper and their daughter Patricia Traster.

Dedicated to fun learning: Indianola Buxton Park Children's Garden

The family of Lynn and Jim Cooper and their daughter Patricia Traster made a donation that led to the creation of a Buxton Park Children's Garden. The garden officially opened Saturday.

The children’s garden features a play tunnel, outdoor musical instruments, a sandpit and other child-friendly activities.

Warnken, of Cincinnati, Ohio, was caring for her maternal grandmother who had dementia and was steadily getting worse.

“I knew she wasn’t going to live a lot longer and I just started seeking out ways to honor her and my grandfather. They loved Indianola so much and had so many great friends and neighbors,” she said.

Warnken connected with Angie Buchanan, the city’s horticulturalist, early on.

Benches and artwork were discussed, but Warnken said those ideas weren’t quite right.

“I liked the idea of doing something nice for the park, but maybe we could find something more in line with what they were all about,” Warnken remembers. “Angie said, ‘Well, ya know, I’ve always had this dream of doing a children’s garden and it hasn’t happened yet.’ She talked about how much seed money it would take to get it started. We agreed it would be a great project and she thought she could get some grants or other donors, so we went all in.”

As far as location goes, the park was an obvious choice, she said.

“It’s a place we spent a lot of time,” Warnken said.

Final details are being completed in anticipation of a ribbon-cutting ceremony, to be held Saturday, Oct. 5, at 10 a.m.

Although Warnken isn’t available this weekend, her father, Vernon Traster, of Indian Lake, Ohio, and brother Marshall Traster, of San Francisco, plan to attend.

“We gave a significant amount of money to get it started,” she said. “I think of it as my grandparents' money, in a way. I think it’s lovely that my mom’s name will be on it, too.”

Warnken’s grandparents were lifelong educators. Her mother and Warnken herself followed in their footsteps.

“We’re all about kids and it’s just a great thing. I love the park and I think it’s a great different thing for the community.”

In the garden, children also can play their way through a life-sized Natureland game.

“There are also planter boxes that have various touch-and-feel plants and vegetables for kids to interact with and learn about, ” Buchanan said.

"Oh what joy for every girl and boy" in Buxton Children's Garden

The family of Lynn and Jim Cooper and their daughter Patricia Traster helped fund the creation of a Children's Garden in Buxton Park. A opening ceremony is set for Saturday at 10 a.m. A bronze jump rope archway sculpture offers a fun entry for Isaac Greene and his sisters as they visited the garden with their grandmother Linda Brewer Tuesday.

A bronze jump rope archway sculpture, part of the Randolph Rose Collection, was installed earlier this week. The garden also will feature two benches by artist Jeff Tadsen, donated by Ray and Joanne Walton.

“At the ribbon-cutting, we’ll have a couple of different fun activities for kids to do,” Buchanan said. Attendees will make faces out of found nature items and create ribbon twirlers.

After a few speakers from the community, “we’ll have ribbons draped across the archway and we’ll let the community members that were involved in it cut the ribbon,” Buchanan said.

The children’s garden was established thanks to donations from several entities, with the Cooper descendants spearheading the effort.

Buchanan said it’s unusual to have a project – nearly $31,000 – totally funded by donations.

“This is unique in the fact that so many groups contributed toward one grand project,” Buchanan said. “Oftentimes groups are involved in different things, but usually it’s not as many groups all at once.”

Warnken said the memorial has worked out perfectly.

“My grandparents loved the community. Even after my mom had moved to Ohio, it was always the place we wanted to come,” Warnken said. “Both because of my grandparents and the community itself. It’s great to give something back.”

Marshall Traster and Vernon Traster cut the ribbon marking the opening to the new...

Colorado Model Railroad Museum Officially Unveils New Plaza with Ribbon-Cutting

Randolph Rose Bronze Statues Unveiled for Colorado Model Railroad Museum

The Greeley Area Chamber of Commerce with museum staff and volunteers celebrate the grand opening of the museum’s new plaza.

A new plaza at the Colorado Model Railroad Museum honors one of the museum’s longtime supporters.

The museum on Tuesday hosted a ribbon-cutting for the new Al Frank Memorial Plaza.

Frank became a supporter of the Colorado Model Railroad Museum in 2012 when he sent the museum information on its 1919 red caboose.

Over the years, Frank and Executive Director Michelle Kempema had many discussions about how he could create future exhibits and other projects at the museum. In September 2021, Frank donated nearly 500 books, pamphlets and magazines to create the Al Frank Library.

Wanting to leave a lasting gift to the museum, Frank commissioned three bronze statues from artist Randolph Rose in Yonkers, New York. The three statues arrived in Greeley in April 2022. The museum installed the statues in the plaza to welcome visitors as they enter the building.

“All Aboard” depicts a train conductor calling out to signal the train is about to leave. “Goin’ to Grandma’s House” shows a father carrying his daughter as he walks alongside his son.

In addition to the bronze statues, Frank created the designs for the planters in the plaza as well as provided funding for the landscaping and hardscape.

While work on the plaza project began in early 2022, sadly, Frank died on Dec. 3, 2022, before he could see his dream come to fruition.

“Al loved everything to do with railroads — their construction, history, and preservation — and enjoyed educating the public about them as a long-time volunteer at both the Colorado Railroad Museum and the Forney Museum of Transportation,” the museum said in a news release. “He was one of a kind, and he will be dearly missed.”

Frank was self-employed for most of his life and after moving to Colorado, he began working at Electro-Media, an electronics company that specialized in sound system installations.

In 1996, Frank retired from Electro-Media as the company’s sole owner.

Museum Employee with Bronze Train Conductor Statue — *Museum volunteer Jim Leonard strikes a pose next to his bronze doppelganger during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday.*

Along with his fancy for trains, Frank was a skilled oil painter, jewelry maker and musician. He collected art and antiques and restored classic cars as well as fished and enjoyed ham radios.

The Colorado Model Railroad Museum was founded by David Trussell in 2002. Construction of the facility took seven years. It was unveiled to the community on Memorial Day weekend in 2009.

Since its opening, more than 150,000 visitors have passed through the museum’s door to enjoy railroad artifacts including the 1919 C&S 10583 Caboose, Lionel Trains collection, OC&E Railway HO scale layout and more. The museum hosts special events and activities throughout the year.

The Greeley Area Chamber of Commerce with museum staff and volunteers celebrate...

Randolph Rose Collection: Creating Bronze Legacies That Stand the Test of Time

Celebrate Diversity - Fun with Friends by Randolph Rose Collection. Photo courtesy of Randolph Rose Collection

At Randolph Rose Collection in Yonkers, New York, they receive requests to create sculptural works of art in materials other than bronze but they never deviate.

“We won’t stray,” says Austin Rose, one of Randolph’s three grown sons who’s involved in helping him run the family business centered on lost-wax custom bronze statues and fountains. “Bronze stands the test of time--when it ages it becomes more beautiful and I don’t know if you can say that about other materials.”

Growing up in close proximity to Manhattan, Rose recalls visits to New York City’s Central Park and travel through Europe where he would see bronze sculptures on view that were evidence of bronze’s longevity.

Today, Rose focuses on client outreach, marketing and website development at the business his father founded in 1972. Since its inception, Randolph Rose Collection has been rooted in creating bronze sculptural works of art for homes, gardens and public spaces.

“We are a very tight-knit family,” Rose says. “We were raised in the arts with an appreciation for it and I don’t know if it’s carrying on a legacy from one generation to the next, but we all enjoy being involved in it -- I can’t imagine being involved in anything else.”

According to Rose, Randolph Rose Collection’s business has blossomed in the last several years. Since the pandemic started, for example, Rose has seen an uptick in people wanting to commission projects that have personal significance to them.

“Everyone has different things that are important to them,” he says. “We have seen projects where people want to represent our military -- veterans, soldiers that have been lost in battle -- from WWII to Vietnam to current day.”

Also in the past year, there has been an increase in parents reaching out to them who are looking to memorialize their child who passed away from an unfortunate circumstance.

“Children who really come from different walks of life,” he says. “Children that may have been underrepresented walking through life -- special needs children bound to wheelchairs -- some with incurable diseases -- some with different developmental disabilities.’

Rose says the process is very emotional and personal for families, which sometimes serves as a barrier to a sculpture of their child coming to fruition, in addition to other factors.

“It’s extremely expensive and there are barriers to entry and not every family can afford to go through with it,” he says, adding in some cases a community will do fundraising. “The money and the emotional process is really hard.”

Memorials for pets that have passed away have also been in demand. One sculpture was commissioned to memorialize a famous Labrador Retriever, Jack, from Maryland whose owner started ‘Jack’s World’ on Facebook which has over 40,000 followers. The sculpture is on view at the North Beach Maryland Boardwalk and Pier on the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland.

“We made Jack on a six foot long bench with a squirrel on the ground under the bench,” Rose says. “It’s been a real highlight celebrating the dog’s life and bringing so much pleasure to the community.”

After it was unveiled, people started posting pictures of themselves sitting with Jack on the bench using the hashtag #jackmemorial.

“They get hundreds, if not thousands, of posts all over Facebook,” Rose says. “It gets so much love and attention from the community.”

Regardless of the beloved subject, whether child or dog, the family has input during the process from start to finish that can take anywhere from eight months to a year.

“It’s important that the family can weigh in,” he says. “We will go to whatever length we need to make sure everyone is happy in clay form and then we move to casting and bronze.”

Expressing diversity through sculpture is another area of growth Rose has seen increase over the years. One of Rose’s personal favorite sculptures they created is called Celebrate Diversity which is on public view in North Carolina. It was made for a builder who requested the sculpture to represent four children of different ethnicities.

“It really started as a demand from our clients saying this is what we need to represent our community,” Rose says.

Bronze is the common denominator that positively impacts the longevity of Randolph Rose’s pieces regardless of subject matter. Rose looks forward to the pleasure a 16-foot tall statue of a horse with a knight riding atop it named Victory will bring to the Rutgers University, New Jersey, community a century down the road.

“We know, or we are hoping that 100 years from now, that sculpture will be outside that the community can rally around,” he says of the sculpture that is located outside the University’s football stadium. “It’s going to stand the test of time and it becomes an important facet of the college experience.”

Celebrate Diversity - Fun with Friends by Randolph Rose Collection. Photo courtesy of Randolph Rose...

'Captain' the Bobcat Receives Warm Welcome at Cougar Ridge

In the photo above, Bobby the Bobcat, the Cougar Ridge mascot, meets "Captain," the new statue of a bobcat at the school.

On a recent sunny afternoon, the Cougar Ridge Elementary PTSA and school staff unveiled a new bobcat statue in recognition of the school and parent group’s 30 years of partnership. The bronze statue represents the school’s mascot, and the characteristics of kindness, bravery and honesty.

Students voted to name the bobcat “Captain.” Principal Drew Terry thanked the PTSA for the gift, and said considerable effort went into the project, from the planning and approval process to the placement and unveiling. He also said he appreciates the members of the Maintenance crew who put in special effort to install the statue carefully and properly.

“It turned out beautifully,” Terry said. “It’s a great partnership.”

Diana Heyd and Christina Smedegaard led the PTSA committee that worked on the statue project, starting by surveying other PTSA members about what type of gift they would like to purchase for the anniversary. “We’re proud of the way it came together,” Smedegaard said.

The statue is the creation of artist Randolph Rose of New York and features a bobcat with its front paws on a stack of books.

“We hope it’ll be here for many years to come,” Heyd said.

The PTSA board and committee members settled on a statue in hopes that it will foster an added sense of belonging for the students, staff and families of Cougar Ridge. The PTSA also has recently purchased fence art that proclaims, “We are Bobcats!” and high netting behind the soccer goals on the fields to prevent balls from getting lost in the berry bushes as they have in years past.

“It’s pretty amazing. We’re very lucky to be able to give such a big gift to our school community,” Smedegaard said.

For each group of students, Heyd and Smedegaard, along with current PTSA board members, pulled a cloth off the statue. Bubbles floated through the air, and balloons bobbed in the breeze.

The “other” school mascot, Bobby the bobcat, also attended the ceremony, much to the delight of the students, who high-fived the mascot on the way to the ceremony.

Dean of Students Anne Miller announced the new statue’s name to each group of students, and shared the character traits Captain represents.

“Captain will be here forever and ever,” Miller said. “He will greet you in the morning and say goodbye in the afternoons.”

In the photo above, Bobby the Bobcat, the Cougar Ridge mascot, meets "Captain," the new...

Mount Sinai Fire Department Hosts 9/11 Dedication Service

The Mount Sinai Fire Department held a memorial service on Sunday, Sept 11, in honor of the lives lost on 9/11.

Community members gathered at the fire department’s memorial. There, various members of MSFD delivered speeches commemorating the fallen. Following these statements, the department performed a ceremonial bell ringing, recognizing those who died in the line of duty.

In an interview, Chief Randy Nelson discussed the ceremony’s purpose. For him, this annual custom preserves the memory of first responders who risked it all in the name of duty. It also recognizes the many civilians who died during the attacks.

“It’s a way to honor those who were lost on that day and, unfortunately, those that were lost since then battling diseases that stemmed from their work at Ground Zero in the months after,” he said. “It’s a way to honor, remember and — like it’s always said — to never forget. It is important to always have their memory at the top of our minds, especially on this day, but every day.”

The Mount Sinai Fire Department held a memorial service on Sunday, Sept 11, in...

‘Always remember’: Mount Sinai FD honors the 9/11 fallen

Kneeling fireman bronze statue memorial, Mt Sinai Fire Department

Outside the Mount Sinai Fire Department at dusk on Monday night, Sept. 11, members of the Mount Sinai Fire Department held their annual commemoration for those who perished on that date 22 years earlier.

Firefighters gathered at the department’s 9/11 memorial, surrounded by family and community members, where they reflected upon the memory of those who died, recognizing the sacrifice of the first responders who had paid the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.

9/11 unveiling of fireman memorial bronze statue for Mt. Sinai by Randolph Rose Collection

Department chaplain Micky Nassauer delivered the evening’s invocation, outlining the purpose of this annual occasion.

“On this solemn day of remembrance, may we honor the lives that were lost in this tragic act, and may we give thanks to those who served and saved,” he said.

Chief of Department Randy Nelson performed the annual bell ringing ceremony, which rang out in honor of the 343 New York City Fire Department members who laid down their lives in the line of service.

“We honor their supreme sacrifice,” Nelson said, “On this day and every day.”

bronze statue of a kneeling fireman for Mt. Sinai Fire Department. Artist Randolph Rose Collection — Photo by Raymond Janis

In an address to the department, Nelson chronicled the events on that Tuesday morning as they transpired in real time. Despite the darkness and the destruction unleashed upon the city and nation, he maintained that the nation has persevered, offering a new approach to reflect upon that moment in history.

“The words ‘Never forget’ have become synonymous with September 11,” the fire chief said. “But as stated today by one of the victims’ family members, ‘Always remember’ is really the better approach.”

He advised, “Keep your memory of that day as a way to remember all that were lost.”

Outside the Mount Sinai Fire Department at dusk on Monday night, Sept. 11, members...

The City of Houston reveals beautiful new statue of former First Lady Barbara Bush

HOUSTON – The City of Houston, Mayor Sylvester Turner, the Barbara Bush Houston...

In the News: Barbara Bush Statue Unveiled

Barbara Bush Bronze Statue at the Houston Public Library. Designed and cast by Randolph Rose Collection

On September 28, the City of Houston, led by Mayor Sylvester Turner, in conjunction with the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation (Foundation), Houston Public Library Foundation (HPL Foundation), and Houston Public Library, revealed a statue of Former First Lady Barbara Bush and held a dedication at the Barbara Bush Literacy Plaza at the Houston Public Library Downtown. The bronze statue, commissioned in partnership among the organizations, will serve as the focal point of the Barbara Bush Memorial Garden located within the Plaza named in honor of the late First Lady.

The dedication was attended by Mayor Sylvester Turner; Family members of the late President George H.W. & First Lady Barbara Bush – Neil Bush (son) and wife Maria Bush, Pierce (grandson) and wife Sarahbeth Bush, Jim Pierce (nephew), and Clemmie Pierce Martin (great niece); Dr. Julie Baker Finck, President & CEO, Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation; Licia Green Ellis, Houston Public Library Foundation Board Chair; and John Middleton, Houston Public Library Assistant Director of Spaces. The invocation was offered by Reverend Dr. Russell J. Levenson, Jr, Rector of St. Martin’s Episcopal Church.

The custom bronze statue, created by artists at Randolph Rose Collection, took two years to design and create, is the first stand-alone statue of the late First Lady Barbara Bush in Texas. (A statue of the late President George H. W. Bush and First Lady Barbara Bush stands in the Bush Convention Center in Midland, Texas.) The statue is a life-size image of Mrs. Bush seated on a six-foot “open book” bench. She is wearing her signature pearls and is posed in the act of reading as she did so often to groups of children across the country who would gather to hear stories. Beloved family dog Millie – the family dog while the Bush’s were in the White House – sits at her feet. Mrs. Bush frequently took her dogs – whether Millie or Mini and Bebe on school visits.

“Mom championed a literacy movement across America and believed that learning how to read, write, and comprehend was a fundamental human right,” said Neil Bush, son of President George H. W. Bush and First Lady Barbara Bush and Co-Chair of the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation. “The statue is an incredible tribute to her legacy and captures Mom’s essence, as she truly loved reading to children in schools across our nation and beyond with her beloved dogs in tow.”

“This statue stands as a tribute to Barbara Bush’s incredible 30-year commitment to helping countless people across our country gain the life-changing literacy skills they need to thrive in the workforce, family and society.” said Mayor Sylvester Turner. “May this statue serve as a constant reminder of her dedication and inspire us all to give in service to others and make reading a priority in our homes and communities."

The Barbara Bush Literacy Plaza is located between the historic Julia Ideson Building and the Central Library of the Houston Public Library in downtown Houston and joins five bronze book benches sponsored by the Foundation’s Ladies for Literacy Guild in 2022.

On September 28, the City of Houston, led by Mayor Sylvester Turner, in...

Ladies Guild Dedicates Book Benches in Honor of Barbara Bush

A series of five custom bronze book bench library statues designed and cast by Randolph Rose Collection for the Barbara Bush Literacy Plaza in Houston, TX. See the statue here.

Visitors to downtown Houston’s Barbara Bush Literacy Plaza now have a new space to read and reflect following the installation and dedication of five new, book-inspired bronze benches. Underwritten by the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation’s Ladies for Literacy Guild, the benches commemorate the exceptional efforts of our illustrious namesake and former First Lady Barbara Bush, who for nearly three decades, served as an advocate for literacy at the local and national level.

A focal point of Barbara’s Memorial Garden, a dedicated green space on the Plaza, the book benches will inspire present and future generations of children, families, and visitors of the Plaza to read. Representatives from the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation, the Ladies for Literacy Guild, City of Houston, Houston Public Library (HPL) and Houston Public Library Foundation (HPL Foundation) attended the outdoor dedication of the bronze book benches on February 22nd at the Barbara Bush Literacy Plaza.

The benches, casted in bronze and detailed with open, fluttering book pages invite children, families, and Plaza visitors to relax on any of the five new installations. The Barbara Bush Literacy Plaza is quickly gaining recognition as a “must-see” downtown destination for visitors from near and far. Weekly programming events for audiences of all ages, along with a variety of engaging installations, such as a water wall and performance stage, have transformed the Barbara Bush Literacy Plaza into a vibrant and bustling community space in the heart of downtown Houston.

Orginally published - Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation

A series of five custom bronze book bench library statues designed and cast by...

Celebrating 150 years: New public art to pay homage to railroad past

A bronze statue of a train conductor, "All Aboard" from Randolph Rose Collection - Yonkers, NY. See the statue here.

As a part of its 150th birthday, Denison is turning to its past for a new piece of public art. The city is planning to install a new sculpture outside the Katy Depot building that will pay homage to the city's past as a railroad hub in the last 19th and early 20th centuries.

The proposed sculpture was quietly approved for placement by the Denison Historic Preservation Board earlier this week, setting the stage for the purchase and installation of the piece this winter outside of the Katy Depot.

"We thought it would be a good tribute to the city on its 150th anniversary and sesquicentennial and it really honors the heritage of the railroad that we are going for," Denison Mayor Pro Tem Brian Hander said.

The new three-piece bronze sculpture, entitled "All Aboard," was created by the Randolph Rose Collection and depicts a train conductor calling out to riders preparing to board a train. Nearby, a woman and a small child run to catch the train before it departs the station.

This would mark the second Randolph Rose sculpture in Denison following another piece located at Waples Memorial United Methodist Church.

"We do have a basis here for their work," Hander said. "They are a really great company to work with, and I think people are going to be really happy with this.

Hander said he started looking at ways to celebrate the city's 150th anniversary in late 2020 when he found the sculptor and the piece. Currently, only three copies of All Aboard exist, he said.

The depot was built in the early 1910s and the sculpture depicts people dressed in 1920s fashions, which Hander felt would pay honor to the heyday of Denison's rail history.

The city has dedicated $14,000 to the project — roughly half the cost of the sculpture, Hander said, adding that his family has dedicated an additional $2,000 for the project. Organizers have also approached the Denison Arts Council regarding funding, but the project needed approval by Historic Preservation before they could consider it.

The sculpture will come at the culmination of several projects within the city, including the restoration of the depot and the nearby Hotel Denison. Hander hopes that the sculpture will also serve as a landmark for the city's visitor's center, which is located inside the depot.

Plans are still being made for the anniversary, but Hander said he hopes to include all of these parts of the city's past in its festivities.

See All Aboard Train Set >

As seen in Herald Democrat - Michael Hutchins

A bronze statue of a train conductor, "All Aboard" from Randolph Rose Collection -...

Veterans Building - Collinsville, Oklahoma

Battle Cross - Battlefield Cross bronze memorial statue by Randolph Rose Collection

A plate on the sculpture indicates it is part of the Randolph Rose Collection. The Veterans Building which stands adjacent was recently renovated, and as far as we could tell, this memorial was placed here and dedicated on November 11, 2016.

To the east stands this life-sized bronze sculpture of a World War II Marine, in full uniform. He has on a helmet and backpack, and is holding his rifle pointed down.

The sculpture is from the collection of Randolph Rose Collection and was dedicated on November 11, 2016 when renovation of the Veterans Building was honored.

Built in 1946, the former American Legion and VFW post Collinsville, Oklahoma had deteriorated over time. “It’s just been an icon for the city,” City Manager Pam Polk said. “We knew we wanted to bring it back to life to make it not only a remembrance of those that have fought for us and given us our freedoms but to have it for the community’s use for different events.” The 5,000-square-foot facility has undergone a number of upgrades, including installation of a new roof system, restrooms, meeting rooms, flooring and walkways, as well as improvements to landscaping. The foyer, which features a catering kitchen and stage, can be used for community events and is available to rent. Above the front entrance, engraved on a concrete panel are the words: "This building is dedicated to those who served our country - by the community of Collinsville.

In addition to hosting the building’s dedication, the city unveiled a war memorial outside that features bronze sculptures of a World War II Marine and a fallen soldier “battlefield cross.” The creeds of each military branch are etched in black granite plaques surrounding the cross.st at Ninth and Main streets had deteriorated over time. It was deeded to the city of Collinsville shortly before its roof collapsed in 2012. City officials decided to fully restore both the inside and outside of the structure, improving its many features and preserving its long history. The city invested around $700,000 in the project, which came from a surplus in Vision 2025 funds. Some private fundraising for the development was done, as well.

This memorial stands on a concrete circular patio, bordered by inlaid bricks. At the center is a 5-sided black granite base on which stands a Marine Corps Battle Cross memorial. On each of the five faces, a soldier's creed for each branch of service is engraved.

The symbol and history of the Battle Cross: "The Fallen Soldier Battle Cross, Battlefield Cross or Battle Cross is a symbolic replacement of a cross, or marker appropriate to an individual service-member's religion, on the battlefield or at the base camp for a soldier who has been killed. It is made up of the soldier's rifle stuck into the ground or into the soldier's boots, with helmet on top. Dog tags are sometimes placed on the rifle, and the boots of the dead soldier can be placed next to the rifle. The purpose is to show honor and respect for the dead at the battle site. The practice started during or prior to the American Civil War, as a means of identifying the bodies on the battleground before removal. Today, it is a means of showing respect for the dead among the still living members of the troop. It is commonly seen in the field or base camp after a battle, especially among American troops in Afghanistan or Iraq. While it is used less today as a means of identification, it still serves as a method of mourning among the living, as attending the funeral is not always possible for soldiers still in combat."

Circling this centered sculpture are five large sloped granite slabs on which bronze seals of each of the armed forces are shown: Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy and Coast Guard.

legion.org/memorials/244567/veterans-building-collinsville-oklahoma

A plate on the sculpture indicates it is part of the Randolph Rose Collection....

National Orphan Train Complex Unveils 25th Orphan Train Rider Statue, Cloud County Museum

A bronze statue of a boy pushing a wheelbarrow from Randolph Rose Collection. See...

National Orphan Train Complex Unveils Three New Rider Statues at their 17th Annual Celebration

Custom bronze statue of Anna Laura Hill designed and created by Randolph Rose Collection,...

New Statues in Kansas Commemorate Orphan Train Movement

A new bronze statue of a little girl sits on a sidewalk in Concordia, Kan. Her name is Miriam Zitur, and she's a darling little thing, about 6 years old with pigtails and bare feet.

Miriam is among the first of several dozen statues representing real children that are popping up on the streets of this north central Kansas town of fewer than 6,000 residents. The statues celebrate the upcoming 10th anniversary of the National Orphan Train Complex that opened at 300 Washington St. in 2007.

The facility, a former Union Pacific Railroad Depot, is a museum and research center dedicated to the so-called Orphan Train movement, through which an estimated 250,000 children were relocated by rail to homes throughout North America between 1854 and 1929. The museum explores a time when abandoned, orphaned and neglected children, many the offspring of poor immigrants, were left to fend for themselves on the streets of New York.

Miriam was just 19 months old in 1908, an orphan in New York, when she and others like her were gathered up by the Children's Aid Society, placed on trains and sent west — some to loving families, some not so much. The ads in rural newspapers announcing the arrival of an orphan train read "Children: Free to a Good Home." Miriam, who died in 1993, was adopted by a family in Minnesota.

Visitors can step inside the recently added 19th-century passenger car to feel what it was like to ride an orphan train. They also can learn about Anna Laura Hill, a passionate young woman who accompanied the children west and followed up on them in their new homes. (These days, she'd be called a social worker.) A life-size statue of Hill soon will join the children on the streets of Concordia.

Statue was cast in bronze by Randolph Rose Collection - Yonkers, NY

See the Statue Here

By DIANA LAMBDIN MEYER -CHICAGO TRIBUNE

A new bronze statue of a little girl sits on a sidewalk in Concordia,...

Brooke Mulford’s legacy shines on at PRMC

wmdt.com / Dani Bozzini.

Custom bronze plaque and bronze children statue of three girls dancing designed and cast by Randolph Rose Collection, Yonkers, NY.

PRMC is making sure a beloved community member is never forgotten. In June, our community lost Brooke Mulford. She lost her fight to neuroblastoma, but her legacy lives on.

Monday would have been Brooke's 13th birthday and although she's no longer with us, PRMC and our community are still celebrating her birthday by dedicating new garden right outside their outpatient center in Brooke's honor.

Brooke's mother, Amy Mulford says, "This is a lasting legacy, this will always be here and people are always going to see her name and see her picture and it help them remember how she lived her life."

While this plaque will now be a permanent fixture at PRMC, it's not the only way she is remembered here.

One of her dreams came to life right here in Salisbury and it continues to spread joy to children here every day.

"She's such a joy to this world and I'm so glad that she can still be able to be one," explains Amy.

Brooke Mulford, a young girl taken too soon, leaving behind a community that will never forget her infectious smile.

"Brooke was a child who was much older than her years and always no matter what she was going through, she was always thinking of others and always wanted to make everybody else’s life easier," says PRMC Foundation President, Denise Billing.

Throughout Brooke's journey fighting neuroblastoma, she was in and out of hospitals.

An experience difficult for a child at any age and that's why she created Brooke's Toy Closet at PRMC back in 2014.

Billing says," She knows how boring it is just to sit and wait so it was her idea for every child who came into the hospital to get a toy."

"It’s a way to keep it and make sure it does stay alive and keep going and children benefit from it," explains Brooke's father Rob Mulford.

And even several months after her passing, Brooke's legacy continues to spread joy. It's something her mother, Amy, says makes it all a little easier.

"I love hearing the stories. I just got one this week from a parent who had to bring her child to the ER really early in the morning and nothing was making him feel better and the nurse brought in a toy from the toy closet for him and it changed everything."

Her father, Rob, explains her reach went past just Delmarva.

"Just amazing, it's what she was, part of the community . It's bigger than the community, she touched people in California, Florida, Boston, Philadelphia, South Jersey," says Rob.

And it's those stories and this toy closet that will keep Brooke's legacy shining on forever.

"I still every single day I get messages from people on Facebook that I've never met before telling me how Brooke touched their lives and this is months later now that I'm still hearing from people and stories on how she inspired them or their children or somebody in their life through their battles," says Amy.

wmdt.com / Dani Bozzini. Custom bronze plaque and bronze children statue of three girls...

Randolph Rose Collection In The News

Altrusa Sculpture Approved for Four Corners Park

Altrusa Sculpture Approved for Four Corners Park

Honoring The Late Ward D Councilman Michael Yun

Honoring The Late Ward D Councilman Michael Yun

Jersey City Honors Late Councilman Michael Yun with Bronze Statue

Jersey City Honors Late Councilman Michael Yun with Bronze Statue

Rod ‘N’ Reel Celebrates Late Owner’s Birthday

Rod ‘N’ Reel Celebrates Late Owner’s Birthday

Ribbon Cut at New Library Park

Ribbon Cut at New Library Park

Memorial Unveiled for Freefall Jumpers

Memorial Unveiled for Freefall Jumpers

Library Receives Statue in Memory of Joyce Bonsell

Library Receives Statue in Memory of Joyce Bonsell

New Sculpture Adorns Library Memorial Garden

New Sculpture Adorns Library Memorial Garden

Harry S. Parker Athletic Complex's New Bronze Statue

Harry S. Parker Athletic Complex's New Bronze Statue

Harry S. Parker Sports Complex Playground

Athletic Facilities for Those with Disabilities are Back in Orland Park

Athletic Facilities for Those with Disabilities are Back in Orland Park

Memorial Day Commemorated in Richmond Hill

Memorial Day Commemorated in Richmond Hill

Whatever Happened to Joe Altobelli?

Whatever Happened to Joe Altobelli?

Indian Rocks Beach Adds More Public Art

Indian Rocks Beach Adds More Public Art

Mayor Honored with Bronze Sculpture

Mayor Honored with Bronze Sculpture

Clarkstown to Unveil D-Day Statue at New City Community Center

Clarkstown to Unveil D-Day Statue at New City Community Center

IRB Action 2000 Donates Bronze Manatee Sculpture

IRB Action 2000 Donates Bronze Manatee Sculpture

Flower Mound Parks Projects Move Forward

Flower Mound Parks Projects Move Forward

'Celebrate Diversity' Statue Unveiled in Downtown Clarksburg, WV

'Celebrate Diversity' Statue Unveiled in Downtown Clarksburg, WV

Helping Hands Honored

Helping Hands Honored

Bronze Cow Statue Set-up to Honor Record-Breaking Cow

Bronze Cow Statue Set-up to Honor Record-Breaking Cow

Dolphin Sculpture Unveiled at IRB Park

Dolphin Sculpture Unveiled at IRB Park

Bicycle Boy Bronze Statue

Bicycle Boy Bronze Statue

Hmong-Lao Veterans Memorial Unveiled

Hmong-Lao Veterans Memorial Unveiled

14 Bronze Sculptures Await Installation in Fort Morgan

14 Bronze Sculptures Await Installation in Fort Morgan

Hoffmann Hospice Unveils God Bless America Statue & Garden

Hoffmann Hospice Unveils God Bless America Statue & Garden

New Additions to Veterans Freedom Park Dedicated

New Additions to Veterans Freedom Park Dedicated

Connecticut State Police Immortalize K-9

Connecticut State Police Immortalize K-9

National Orphan Train Complex Unveils Statue in Jamestown

National Orphan Train Complex Unveils Statue in Jamestown

New Orphan Train Rider Statue Installed In Concordia City Park

New Orphan Train Rider Statue Installed In Concordia City Park

40th Orphan Train Rider Statue Unveiled in Concordia, Kansas

40th Orphan Train Rider Statue Unveiled in Concordia, Kansas

Hampton High School Remembrance Garden Gets Bronze Statues

Hampton High School Remembrance Garden Gets Bronze Statues

Memorial Dog Park Opens In the memory of Sara Elizabeth Low

Memorial Dog Park Opens In the memory of Sara Elizabeth Low

Surprise Statue Unveiled at Redevelopment Dedication

Surprise Statue Unveiled at Redevelopment Dedication

Akron’s Heisman Moment 130 Years Ago Helped Shape Our Beloved Game

Akron’s Heisman Moment 130 Years Ago Helped Shape Our Beloved Game

Randolph Rose Artwork Dedicated at Pines Park

Randolph Rose Artwork Dedicated at Pines Park

New Children's Garden Dedicated on Rainy Saturday

New Children's Garden Dedicated on Rainy Saturday

Colorado Model Railroad Museum Officially Unveils New Plaza with Ribbon-Cutting

Colorado Model Railroad Museum Officially Unveils New Plaza with Ribbon-Cutting

Randolph Rose Collection: Creating Bronze Legacies That Stand the Test of Time

Randolph Rose Collection: Creating Bronze Legacies That Stand the Test of Time

'Captain' the Bobcat Receives Warm Welcome at Cougar Ridge

'Captain' the Bobcat Receives Warm Welcome at Cougar Ridge