Dickinson Historical Society President Charlotte Kohrs, center, goes over plans for the groundbreaking ceremony with Secretary Mary Dunbaugh and Past President Ernie Deats as the crowd begins arriving. The Founder’s Statues honoring the city’s past are Deats’ brainchild.
A crowd of long-time Dickinson residents were on hand March 22 when the Dickinson Historical Society broke ground for the foundation base for three life-size bronze statues it plans to install on the city complex grounds beside the Dickinson Public Library.
The statues will honor the Rancher, the Shopkeeper and the Farmer, representing the people who were instrumental in founding and establishing the community.
The statues will be placed so they are looking toward city hall and the intersection of Highway 3 and FM 517.
Among those taking key roles in the ceremonies were Dickinson Mayor Julie Masters, Historical Society President Charlotte Kohrs, Executive Director Joan Malmrose and Secretary Mary Dunbaugh, Past President Ernie Deats and Colleen Steblein, who worked with the students and teachers on the model for the Fine Arts Foundry.
The Founder’s Statues honoring the past have been a project of the Dickinson Historical Society for the past five years and are the brainchild of Ernie Deats, who enrolled the help of the high school art teacher and students to mold the initial statues, Kohrs said.
“The Historical Society commissioned the Fine Arts Foundry of Texas to cast the first statue, the Rancher, which has been completed and is ready to be installed,” she explained.
The Historical Society also launched its Capital Campaign Fund Drive to finish the remaining two statues during the groundbreaking ceremony. Those wishing to donate may send a check to the Dickinson Historical Society, 218 FM 517 W, Dickinson, Texas 77539, marked “Statue Campaign.”
