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Replica will be unveiled after Memorial Day parade; original being restored
By Bill Lilley
Beacon Journal staff writer
POSTED: 07:26 a.m. EST, Jan 08, 2009
When a replica of Lakemore's doughboy statue is returned to its place of honor on Memorial Day, it will mark the third time that residents have gathered to mark such an occasion.
Commander James Richards of the Army Navy Garrison 273 hopes this will be the last such dedication of the World War I sculpture in the village's center.
The doughboy statue — a replica of the original dedicated in 1938 — is to be unveiled after the village's Memorial Day parade.
The statue has seen its share of adversity.
It had to be rededicated in 1988 when a truck struck it.
It was stolen in September and remained missing for nearly two weeks before a fisherman discovered it in Mogadore Reservoir in Portage County.
The statue's head was smashed and its left hand and most of its rifle were missing.
''I know a lot of the people, especially the veterans, are really looking forward to having the doughboy back,'' Richards said. ''It's a part of a lot of people's lives around here and they've really been missing it.''
Indiana sculptor E.M. Viquesney (1876-1946) created the original design, and more than 130 were produced. It depicts an infantryman at rest with his helmet pushed back and his rifle in his left hand.
Stathos Construction and Engineering has taken a casting from the damaged original and plans to create a replica at a foundry in Cleveland.
''The new one will be made of bronze because the feeling is it will last longer,'' Richards said. ''It will replace the original on the monument in the triangle in the middle of town. I trust it will be bolted down better this time.''
Richards said the original doughboy will be repaired and kept safely inside the club at 1391 Main St.
John Stathopoulos, who founded Stathos Construction and Engineering 25 years ago, said restoring the vandalized statue was difficult because it was made of zinc. Workers were able to fix the helmet and found a replacement hand.
''A lot of veterans in this area have been very upset about the doughboy statue being stolen,'' Richards said. ''People will feel a lot better when we get the new one up.''
Stathopoulos said his company has finished making the casting of the original and is ready to begin the replica statue.
The club's insurance will cover the $13,000 bill for the restoration of the original statue and the creation of a new one.
Lakemore Police Chief Kenneth Ray said the theft remains under investigation. They believe the motive was to sell the statue for scrap.
''We have a few leads we are still following,'' Ray said. ''But we don't have enough at this point to make any arrests.''
Bill Lilley can be reached at 330-996-3811 or blilley@thebeaconjournal.com.
When a replica of Lakemore's doughboy statue is returned to its place of honor on Memorial Day, it will mark the third time that residents have gathered to mark such an occasion.
Commander James Richards of the Army Navy Garrison 273 hopes this will be the last such dedication of the World War I sculpture in the village's center.
The doughboy statue — a replica of the original dedicated in 1938 — is to be unveiled after the village's Memorial Day parade.
The statue has seen its share of adversity.
It had to be rededicated in 1988 when a truck struck it.
It was stolen in September and remained missing for nearly two weeks before a fisherman discovered it in Mogadore Reservoir in Portage County.
The statue's head was smashed and its left hand and most of its rifle were missing.
''I know a lot of the people, especially the veterans, are really looking forward to having the doughboy back,'' Richards said. ''It's a part of a lot of people's lives around here and they've really been missing it.''
Indiana sculptor E.M. Viquesney (1876-1946) created the original design, and more than 130 were produced. It depicts an infantryman at rest with his helmet pushed back and his rifle in his left hand.
Stathos Construction and Engineering has taken a casting from the damaged original and plans to create a replica at a foundry in Cleveland.
''The new one will be made of bronze because the feeling is it will last longer,'' Richards said. ''It will replace the original on the monument in the triangle in the middle of town. I trust it will be bolted down better this time.''
Richards said the original doughboy will be repaired and kept safely inside the club at 1391 Main St.
John Stathopoulos, who founded Stathos Construction and Engineering 25 years ago, said restoring the vandalized statue was difficult because it was made of zinc. Workers were able to fix the helmet and found a replacement hand.
''A lot of veterans in this area have been very upset about the doughboy statue being stolen,'' Richards said. ''People will feel a lot better when we get the new one up.''
Stathopoulos said his company has finished making the casting of the original and is ready to begin the replica statue.
The club's insurance will cover the $13,000 bill for the restoration of the original statue and the creation of a new one.
Lakemore Police Chief Kenneth Ray said the theft remains under investigation. They believe the motive was to sell the statue for scrap.
''We have a few leads we are still following,'' Ray said. ''But we don't have enough at this point to make any arrests.''
Bill Lilley can be reached at 330-996-3811 or blilley@thebeaconjournal.com.
Comments
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Akron, OH
Posted 01:21 PM, 01/07/2009
Bolted down and electrified. That's the ticket. A much anticipated return. Big 21 gun salutes to the Army-Navy Garrison and Stathos Construction.
Akron, Oh
Posted 01:28 PM, 01/07/2009
I'm sure the mayor would like to get his hands around the person who took the statue. Just glad it will be replaced and not just forgotten like most veterans have been. Mr. Richards and Chief Ray had a lot to do with getting the new statue. Thank you to all that helped.
akron, oh
Posted 03:39 PM, 01/07/2009
You shouldn't have let all the crackheads and methheads know its being replaced with bronze-thats why they stole it to begin with.
i'll be happy to have it back
Posted 04:37 PM, 01/07/2009
Which one is the doughboy?
Posted 12:37 AM, 01/08/2009
Too bad it's illegal to rig stuff with mines, because this is one prime candidate test case. Let some scrap metal thief have a taste of the same stuff the veterans dealt with during the war. The thief could rot where he fell for all I care... this is possibly the lowest crime imaginable.
akron, oh
Posted 02:40 AM, 01/08/2009
13 grand for that hunk of junk... You should be able to at least get a huge giant rusted frog for that kind of money.
