The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

WAITSBURG - The passion artist Jeffrey Hill holds for Waitsburg's Main Street Art project was evident as he shared his vision for "The Founding Fathers" sculpture with the Waitsburg Arts Commission and interested citizens at an artist's presentation last month. That passion is apparently still alive in spite of the fact that Squire Broel's competing piece, an obelisk shaped monument, received the Arts Commission's recommendation and final City Council approval.

City Administrator Randy Hinchliffe said feedback indicates that citizens would like to see Hill's piece on Main Street as well as Broel's and Hill is working with the city and its citizens to find a way to make that happen.

During his presentation, Hill spoke of his time living in Waitsburg and shared that he had purchased an 1800's hand truck from the Waitsburg Hardware store years ago and has incorporated its likeness into his sculpture. Hill's model of the proposed sculpture depicts Sylvester Wait, William Bruce and William Preston walking together, engaged in animated conversation, with Wait pushing a hand truck filled with wheat sacks.

The historically accurate bronze figures will be nearly life-size and the bronze will be subtly colored. Hill envisions visitors taking pictures standing alongside the trio or even perched atop the sacks of wheat.

That type of interaction is exactly what Ross Hamann, former chair of the Waitsburg Revitalization Committee, said the community had in mind when the original streetscape was designed, though a shortage of funds prevented art installations at that time. Hamann spoke at the August council meeting and urged the council to "honor a lot of people's hard work on the original streetscape" by selecting Hill's piece.

As more citizens have commented on their desire to see Hill's piece on Main Street, the City and Hill have joined forces to try and make that happen. According to Hinchliffe, Hill has secured $1,000 toward the project and is willing to lower the budget by the cost of shipping and unloading. It is hoped that donations and several raffles will make up the remainder of the $75,000 necessary to create the sculpture.

Two separate raffles will be held; one for the clay model of the statue and the conceptual drawing of the piece and another for a Jeffrey Hill painting of a rooster. In addition, Hill is willing to commission a limited number of unframed, 20" x 30" oil paintings with the subject of the owner's choosing.

The raffle items are on display at Waitsburg City Hall. Tickets are $5 each or 5 for $20 and will be available at the Lions Club Salmon Feed on Sept. 20 and the Pioneer Fall Festival on Sept. 21. Tickets may also be purchased at City Hall during business hours, through October 15. The drawing will take place at the October 15 City Council Meeting (winner need not be present). Donations can be made in person at City Hall or mailed to PO Box 35, Waitsburg, WA 99361.