PR: Chloe Clark statue site update

Preparation continues on the site for placement of the larger-than-life statue of Chloe Clark. Earlier this week about a dozen apprentices of Carpenters-Employers Apprenticeship & Training of Washington/Idaho and two instructors installed wood forms and removed them from the massive concrete platform once the concrete was set. The platform, on which the statue will be placed, has been set in a corner of Chloe Clark school property at Haskell and Palisade in Northwest Landing. The six-foot bronze statue of the early South Sound educator is scheduled to be dedicated at 11 a.m. on July 10. More details follow.

Following submitted by John Hemphill and John Cohen

Since October 2007, a committee of volunteers has been raising funds and working to put up a school teacher memorial with a sculptured, larger than life, bronze statue of Chloe Clark, the first American school teacher to come to the Puget Sound Region as the centerpiece. On July 10, 2010, the 170 anniversary of Chloe's arrival at the first Fort Nisqually located in today's DuPont, the Memorial will be dedicated. You can go to www.chloeclarkstatue.com to find further information on this subject.

Since October 2007, the Committee has raised $90,000 from donations for the memorial. This month of June 2010 is filled with donations of talent, labor time and materials by companies and individuals to build the concrete pedestal for the: statue; bronze log cabin frame symbolizing the cabins where school was held; and the five bronze plaques that will tell the story of: Chloe Clark, raising the funds, and constructing the memorial that will be dedicated to all women and men school teachers.

In addition to the concrete pedestal, there will be a concrete plaza surrounding the concrete pedestal to facilitate visitors getting to the bronze plaques to include groups of visitors.

Rising above the concrete pedestal, the statue will be mounted on a 10 inch thick granite pedestal that weighs 1,420 pounds.

John Korsmo, President of John Korsmo Construction, Inc. has voluntarily donated the capabilities of his Company to construct the Memorial. The lead is Jeff Robison, the Company's General Superintendent supported by Superintendent Randy Scott. Contact for additional information is Pam Hoerle, (253) 582-6712.

Danard Electric, Inc., has donated the electrical equipment and services. There will be three lights to illuminate the Memorial and there will be an outlet to provide electrical service to the Memorial. Service Manager Steve Doyle is doing the work. (253) 691-4860.

CalPortland (of DuPont) is donating 32 cubic yards of concrete for the pedestal and plaza and 13 cubic yards of crushed rock. Plant Manager Jim Tweedy has supported the Memorial since the beginning in 2007. Jim can be reached at (253) 912-8500.

Concrete finishing work is being donated by Myron LaBrie, President, J&K Concrete, Inc. A life long resident in the Steilacoom Historical School District No 1, Myron is please to donate this support. (253) 686-6522.

As a volunteer, John Reid, a Registered Landscape Architect, prepared the plans for the Memorial. He was assisted by Mel Latham. John can be reached at (253) 640-7161.

As a school lesson project, the forms for the concrete pedestal were built by by carpenter apprentices from the South Puget Sound Training Center. Dan Lindbo is the contact.

Even with machinery, man is required to do pick, shovel and rake work. Volunteers from the Kiwanis Club of Steilacoom will donate their time and labor led by Mike Kirkpatrick. (253) 584-4528.

The Memorial's concrete pedestal and concrete plaza will be constructed in June. On July 8 and 9, a separate operation will mount the bronze items on the concrete pedestal. Bronze items are statue with granite pedestal, log cabin frame and plaques.

The activity to take place during the week of June 7-11. Rain may cause changes.

• Monday, June 7. 10:30 AM Those involved in constructing the Memorial will meet at the Memorial site for the pre-construction orientation by Jeff Robison, Superintendent of the project. Machine work will be done to prepare the site.
• Tuesday & Wednesday, June 8-9. South Puget Sound Training Center students will put in place the forms for the concrete pedestal and other work will be done to prepare for the concrete plaza. Indent will be formed in the sides of the pedestal for the five bronze plaques.
• Thursday, June 10. Approximately 7:00 AM. 15 cubic yards of concrete will be loaded at CalPortland and transported to the Memorial site by a CalPortland concrete delivery truck and poured into the concrete pedestal forms.
• Friday, June 11. Rain make up day if required.
• Over the weekend, the concrete in pedestal forms will harden.
• Monday & Tuesday, June 14-15. Work will begin at approximately 9:00 AM. South Puget Sound Training Center students will remove the forms from the concrete pedestal. Concrete plaza preparatory work will continue. Steve Doyle will install the three lights and do the other electrical work.
• Wednesday, June 16 Progress will be evaluated and date selected for the next major construction event of pouring the concrete for the plaza.
• The Dedication is scheduled for July 10, 2010. beginning at 11:00 AM. The public is invited. Steilacoom High School Key Club and Chloe Clark Elementary School PTA will have food concessions after the ceremony for picnic on the school grounds. Attached is a flyer that provides information.

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