Local resident donates to finish Hauser statue restoration

Joe Ross, a Greendale resident, presented a check to district staff to cover phase two of the Alonzo Hauser statue restoration, saying his gift completes the project’s funding needs.

Ross described his family’s long ties to Greendale and said the donation grew over several years as the project encountered fundraising shortfalls and delays. “On this day … I am following through with her wish and presenting the district with a check to cover the cost of phase 2 of the Hauser statue restoration,” he said, noting that his total contribution now stands at $46,000.

District materials and Ross’s remarks placed the project in two phases: stabilizing and restoring the statue and flagpole, and later landscaping and accessibility improvements. Ross said the project originally estimated around $40,000, that bids and donations shifted the totals, and that when a local historical society reduced its pledge the out-of-pocket amount he provided increased. Nicholas Island Time Construction was hired to do the work, and Gleason Runnymix donated concrete, district staff said.

The restoration included leveling and widening access near existing steps for wheelchair users, replacing benches (with an option to reuse intact originals), installing pads for planters, and adding a memorial plaque or stone. Ross said he covered an extra amount to pay for the remaining construction and the plaque; district staff confirmed the visible work and noted that the area is now accessible.

Board members and others thanked Ross for his persistence and generosity and said a dedication will be planned once final details are set. The district did not provide a firm date for a dedication during the meeting.