A Priest and Six Old Ladies

A group of volunteers, nicknamed “A Priest and Six Old Ladies” worked for two years to raise $52,000 to develop the first of what they hope will become a sculpture park in Sugar Grove, OH (population 448) along Rt. 33. The priest, Father James A. Geiger, 80, is pastor at St. Joseph Church in the town. He said of the project, “As people come into the area, they will see this as the entrance to this part of the state.”

They commissioned local artist Ric Leichliter, a nationally recognized artist for the first sculpture, a 40-foot, galvanized-steel red-tailed hawk. It weighs 2,500 pounds and has over 3,000 separate painted metal feathers. Plans are to add similar pieces of deer, wild turkey and other wildlife to the park.

The local parks commission plans to add a parking lot, landscaping and walking trails to the site. They hope to use it as a lure to get people to look at their community as a destination.

What are you doing to make your town stand out?