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Historic Resources Board backs corner placement for Phoebe Hearst statue, cites safety and visibility
Summary
The Historic Resources Board reaffirmed support for placing the Phoebe Hearst statue at the corner of 4th and Main, citing visibility, safety, and concrete foundation requirements; the board also moved to rescind prior attendance plans and approved commemorative materials for the June unveiling.
The Anaconda-Deer Lodge County Historic Resources Board on April 2 reviewed competing recommendations about the placement of a Phoebe Hearst bronze and confirmed its support for a corner location at 4th and Main.
Board Chair Bob Wren and multiple members said the corner site offers better sightlines to the memorial clock and reduces risks from nearby climbable railings. Rose Nyman and Tammy Mattson raised practical concerns about locating the statue near the black railing and a lilac bush, noting potential for damage and restricted visibility. The board asked staff to obtain new concrete quotes and requested the county commission decide soon so the concrete work could begin in early May.
The board discussed an April 9 letter from the Hearst Free Library Board of Trustees that asked that the statue be placed on the Main Street side of the library near the handicap ramp to reduce concrete and landscaping impacts. In HRB's written response, the board reiterated the corner location "as the most historically appropriate, visually prominent, and structurally sound location," and cited construction details including that the "concrete base will be 12 to 18" thick and will take approximately 30 days to dry." (HRB letter, April 9).
The board also voted on related actions: Terry LaValley moved to rescind a March 19 motion for the board to attend the library trustees' meeting; the motion passed 5-0. Members said the rescission was intended to allow the HRB to present additional materials (new mockups and concrete quotes) to the commission before final placement decisions are made.
The board set next steps that include obtaining a corner vantage-point mockup image to show how the clock and statue would appear together, collecting new concrete bids from active contractors, and placing the issue on the county commission agenda for an April 21 meeting so work could proceed on the recommended schedule.
