OTTUMWA —
If the statue nicknamed “Chief Wapello” is to tour the county, the whole figure has to be together.
That’s why Wapello County Supervisor Jerry Parker said someone had to go to the top of the five-story Wapello County Courthouse, and grab the Chief’s boot — which was all that was left behind when the statue fell during a recent severe storm.
The majority of the statue is resting in a county workshop awaiting restoration.
On Tuesday, Ottumwa Fire Department Assistant Chief Mike Craff and Master Firefighter Ron Klein were 75 feet above Fourth Street. They were going after the foot, which the firefighters later said appeared to have had been the only thing that had held the statue in place for more than a century.
When the OFD firetruck bucket lowered the firefighters to the ground, they handed the metal boot to Parker. He said the last time the 118-year-old chief was at ground level in its entirety was 1950.
“So most of the people alive right now have not had a chance to see the statue up close,” he said.
What people have asked the Board of Supervisors is when the familiar Native American figure will be put back.
Parker said the supervisors hope to receive the contractor’s report this week with both a cost estimate for the restoration of the statue and an estimated timetable.
In the meantime, Parker said, they’ll be taking “Chief Wapello” on tour over the course of several weeks. The Walk on Art Street in September may be the first official appearance, while parades in towns around the county, Oktoberfest in Ottumwa and the Chief Wapello historic grave site near Agency are all likely places for an appearance.
By then, the restoration company should be ready to go to work. The supervisors have discussed putting the 11-foot-tall sculpture in the courthouse for a time, especially if the repair work is completed in winter.
As Parker carried the big boot off for safekeeping, he said residents have been very interested in the rescue and restoration. The tour and potential display, he said, will give them a rare chance to see “something so historical so close.”
Local News
Related Photos
-
Wapello County Supervisor Jerry Parker thanks city firefighters for recovering Chief Wapello’s foot. That will allow restoration to commence on the popular sculpture. Mark Newman/The Courier
August 15, 2012
Chief Wapello: Coming to an event near you
Rescue of foot brings full sculpture together for restoration and display
- Local News
-
- Tornado creates local questions OTTUMWA — If there's a tornado in Wapello County, where would I go afterwards? It isn't hard to understand why local callers are asking Wapello County Emergency Management that question. Josh Stevens, emergency coordinator for the county, said since
- A waiting game OTTUMWA — Family and friends of a hospitalized toddler are waiting for answers, as are local police. On April 22, officers found a 2-year-old boy unresponsive at his home in the 100 block of East Woodland Avenue. He was immediately transported to Ott
-
Training goes beyond fires
OTTUMWA — Our firefighters aren't afraid to run into a fire, said one official, but when it comes to a Hazmat situation, they walk. On Wednesday, the Ottumwa Fire Department was on the grounds of Cargill Meat Solutions, training as realistically as p
-
Hedrick teen missing
OTTUMWA — A 13-year-old Hedrick girl has been reported missing. Hunter Kopp, 13, was last seen leaving the Hedrick area (her hometown) around 6 p.m. Monday. Kopp is a white female, 130 pounds, 5-feet-7-inches, with shoulder-length brown hair and blue
- Veterinary clinic rezoned to commercial OTTUMWA -- The Ottumwa Veterinary Clinic is now officially a commercial district. At Tuesday's city council meeting, members voted 4-1 to approve the rezoning of the clinic from R-1 Single Family Residential to C-1 Commercial District, with Councilma
- Ottumwa lands 2015 Iowa Tourism Conference OTTUMWA — It takes two southeast Iowa communities to yank the opportunity to host the Iowa Tourism Conference from Des Moines. Ottumwa Area Convention and Visitors Bureau executive director Mark Eckman was stunned by how quickly the Iowa Tourism Offi
- County to learn about disaster declarations OTTUMWA — The county is a step closer to finding out if they'll be getting money from the federal government. "FEMA was here last week, doing a damage assessment," said Wapello County Engineer Brian Moore during a meeting of the Wapello County Board
-
Oklahoma emergency crews will report specific needs soon
OTTUMWA — The sound of the telephone ringing is evidence to Julie Smithart that residents of Wapello County do care. The tornado damage to lives and property in Oklahoma has brought out the best in people, said Smithart, an AmeriCorps volunteer assig
-
Barber shows no signs of cutting career short
OTTUMWA -- Darrell Smith's hands are steady and sure as he picks up his clippers and straight razor to begin his first haircut and shave of the day. Smith, 88, has cut hair for 62 years and has owned Smitty's Barber Shop on Albia Road for the past 58
- Making memories on stage -- and off OTTUMWA -- Sold-out shows last year inspired Bridge View Center management to continue finding high-quality acts, they announced Monday. The venue's executive director, Larry Gawronski, said last year, booking good, expensive shows was a "leap of f
- More Local News Headlines
