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Pensacola Heritage Foundation presents fully funded Alexander Stoddard statue proposal for Bayview Park
Summary
The Pensacola Heritage Foundation presented a proposal to place a bronze statue of Alexander Stoddard and his Saint Bernard at a small plot in front of the Bayview Center. The foundation says the $100,000 project is fully funded but the board could not vote because there was no quorum.
The Pensacola Heritage Foundation on Feb. 17 presented a proposal to install a full-size bronze statue of Alexander Stoddard, accompanied by his Saint Bernard, in a small planted plot in front of the Bayview Center.
Norm Haines, historian for the Pensacola Heritage Foundation, told the Parks & Recreation board the statue would sit on a low concrete base and be created by sculptor Randy Neu. Haines said the foundation has already raised about $100,000 to cover the cost: "We have the $100,000 and the Pensacola Heritage Foundation has the money," he said.
The foundation framed the proposal as part of a multi-year effort to recognize underappreciated local figures. Haines reviewed Stoddard's biography and civic contributions, including developing East Hill, building Lakeview Drive (previously named Stoddard Avenue), and arranging for Bayview Park to be donated to the city.
Board members asked about vetting and possible controversies, including whether Stoddard had owned enslaved people. Haines said he performed extensive archival research and reviewed contemporary newspapers and genealogical records; he said he "found nothing" indicating Stoddard enslaved people and provided prior research to a former committee for review.
One committee member cautioned that adding monuments can shape public memory and urged sensitivity to how memorials represent the city's history. Haines responded that the foundation seeks a diverse slate of honorees and listed several other potential candidates, including a Tuskegee airman, a historically significant Black homebuilder, and an early female pharmacist.
Because the board did not have a quorum at the meeting, members did not vote to forward the proposal to City Council. Chairperson Renee Borden told the presenters the foundation would likely need to return for a formal vote at a future meeting; staff and the foundation agreed to follow up with the board and supply the proposed plaque wording and supporting documentation for council review.
The foundation said sculptor Randy Neu has prepared mockups and that the statue would be low-maintenance bronze on a flat concrete base. The board requested the plaque text and the foundation's vetting materials be provided to staff and City Council as part of the referral packet.
