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A familiar face is back in Houghton’s Franklin Square. Perched upon the boulder platform that has been his home for 40 years, the miner statue is greeting visitors again on the east end of downtown.
Vanguard Sculpture Services of Milwaukee repaired the bronze statue early and under budget. City Manager Eric Waara says damage was extensive following a single car crash on January 3rd.
Vanguard faced several challenges in recreating the sculpture. The original alloy mixture was custom made, but Michigan Tech was able to suggest a formula that was very similar. The new parts then had to be weathered to match the wear and tear of decades of Houghton weather. A wax coating has been applied to ensure the miner will last for the decades to come.
Vanguard did not make any additions to the sculpture, but the handle to the pick axe has also been repaired. That damage was not related to the car crash. Waara says it’s another sign of normalcy after a turbulent year of pandemic and worry. The miner was originally installed in June of 1980.
