BLOG: Lincoln statue in limbo after School Board rejection

http://www.gettysburgtimes.com/articles/2010/01/25/blogs/doc4b59feaa7e62b677269644.txt

Lincoln statue in limbo after School Board rejection: Statue complete, but no where to place sculpture.

Published: Monday, January 25, 2010 12:12 AM EST

Is it any surprise that the Gettysburg School Board rejected the enigmatic Lincoln statue?

From the very beginning, there was something bizarre about the entire offer from Utah sculptor Stanley Watts.

No one doubts that the statue will be a wonderful “gift” to Gettysburg.But it all comes down to communication, communication, communication.

The Gettysburg School Board said Tuesday during its unanimous rejection of the statue that it was not “kept in the loop” by the borough about the project.

Naturally, the borough disagreed. In fact, Councilman Michael J. Birkner, the liaison between the borough and Watts, claims that he spoke with Supt. Dr. William Hall a dozen times, the school’s attorney at least six times, and even offered to attend previous school board meetings.

Regardless - - - here we are, nearly two years after Watts announced that he was creating the statue as a “gift” to the citizens of Gettysburg. And we still don’t have a statue.

Mayor William E. Troxell admitted: "The statue is in limbo."

What does Mr. Watts think about all of this? We haven’t seen him since August, when he attended a Gettysburg Borough Council meeting to defend his reputation.

At the time, the Associated Press linked another Watts statue - - - at the Emmitsburg Fire Academy - - - to investor fraud. Watts said he was unaware that the company he contracted to build the statue (Coadum Advisors Inc.) defrauded investors in a ponzi scheme.

Still, many members of Borough Council began to rethink the Lincoln “gift,” and questioned what type of “anonymous donor” would finance the statue.

So Watts visited Gettysburg, and gave officials his side of the story.

He was forthright and honest, distancing himself from the accusations.

Now would be a good time to see him again.Where does he want the statue placed?

Is Gettysburg College a suitable alternative? Or is the vacant REDDI project lot along Carlisle Street OK?

Councilman Birkner reported this week that the 7 foot, six inch tall statue is complete, and Watts would like to “temporarily” store it in Gettysburg, until a permanent property is found. Then, a dedication ceremony would be scheduled.

One possible home is the Farnsworth House garden along Baltimore Street. Owner Loring Shultz has offered the garden to Watts, pointing out that it’s along the “historic pathway” that Lincoln traveled en route from the Wills House to the National Cemetery, where he gave the Gettysburg Address in 1863.

The garden is also directly across the street from Alumni Park, the school district property that Watts had been eyeing for his statue.

Shultz said this week that he doesn’t necessarily “want the statue, but if we’re going to lose it, we’ll take it.”

So, what are the other options?

The Lincoln Cemetery in the 3rd Ward? Probably not, because it does not generate enough tourist traffic.

The Gettysburg Railroad Station? Seems ideal, but the site was reportedly shot down by Watts, because there isn’t enough room for the statue in front of the Carlisle Street depot. (So Lincoln would have to be placed in the rear of the building, and that’s apparently not acceptable.)

Steinwehr Avenue? Eric Uberman has a nice piece of property beside the American Civil War Museum. The site seems pretty legit - - - Steinwehr entrepreneurs are in dire need of a “tourist attraction” since the closure of the old Battlefield Visitor Center.The Rec Park? Hey, why not.

The Adams County Library? The Blue Parrot?

Lincoln Square?

The Race Horse Alley Parking Plaza?

The options are aplenty.

The time for Watts to voice his opinion is now.

Otherwise, this will turn into another “communication” fiasco, and Lincoln may never make the 2000 mile trip from Salt Lake City to Gettysburg.

~ Submitted by: Scot A. Pitzer, Times Staff Reporter.

Reader comments are encouraged. Contact Scot Pitzer directly at 717-334-1131, ext. 247 or spitzer@gburgtimes.com.