The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Back where he belongs
City forefather’s statue honored after accident
If you look closely, you might notice the statue of Revolutionary War Gen. Edward Paine looking a bit more dignified these days.
The fixture in Painesville’s Charter Oak Park, at Mentor Avenue and West Washington Street, got a good going over when it was repaired earlier this year by Kotecki Family Memorials.
Kotecki was paid about $5,000 by J.S. Bova Excavating to restore the granite statue following its fall about a year ago.
On Oct. 9, 2014, a crew member from J.S. Bova struck the monument with an excavator while working on water lines at the triangular park near Lake
Erie College. The impact knocked off Paine’s head.
“(Kotecki) cleaned him up and everything, did repairs to the head, and replaced it on the base,” said Steve Hubbell, the city’s public lands supervisor.
Although the statue was replaced Memorial Day weekend, the local Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution chose to hold a rededication ceremony on Nov. 14. The New Connecticut Chapter of DAR donated the statue to the city on June 21, 1900.
“It is important to honor those who were instrumental in the formation of the USA and to keep history alive,” said Debby Kocsis, chapter regent, noting that most of the members are from Lake and Geauga counties.
Paine was born in Bolton, Connecticut, in 1746. The Painesville area first was surveyed by the Connecticut Land Company in 1798 as part of its Western Reserve. In 1800, Paine helped lead the first settlement of the area. He died in 1841.
About 30 people turned out for the rededication. Many remarked at the statue’s improvement.
“It’s much better from what I remember,” said Russell Township resident Larry Evans, whose relative, John Evans, was in the Revolutionary War. “It’s attached.”
This is the second time that DAR has rededicated the statue in recent memory. In 2003, there was a more elaborate ceremony. Kocsis said they would like to have done more this time, but they are busy preparing to take part in National Wreaths Across America Day, at noon, Dec. 12.
Ceremonial wreaths will be placed to honor each branch of the military at more than 1,000 sites across the country, Kocsis said. Her group will be at Evergreen Cemetery in Painesville.
“Last year, over 700,000 wreaths were placed,” she said. “The closest (participating) cemetery in this area is the National Cemetery in Rittman. Our chapter decided to adopt Evergreen as over 1,000 veterans call Evergreen their final resting place, and to bring this wonderful project to North Eastern Ohio.”
To donate a wreath to be placed at Evergreen, visit the New Connecticut page at www.wreathsacrossamerica.org. For every $15 donated, a veteran’s wreath will be placed on a gravestone.