Restoration of the Original Miss Fancy sculpture
Donation protected
Go Fund Me begins the effort to repair Avondale's famous Miss Fancy!
Eight years ago, Avondale Park in Birmingham, Alabama went through a complete and beautiful overhaul. The showpiece of this renovation was the bronze statue of Miss Fancy....the pachyderm who starred in 1913, when the Park was the original location of the Birmingham Zoo.
Six months after Miss Fancy was installed into the pavilion, a drunk driver damaged the sculpture and it was then removed.
I always wondered what happened to her and often thought 'what if she isn't that bad and maybe we can fix her'??? After inquiring for several years as to the whereabouts of the injured elephant, she turned up in a remote storage room at Legion Field!!
With support of Birmingham Parks and Rec and the Friends of Avondale Park, we were able to finally view this popular gal!! And guess what? With only a broken tusk, some cracks and a bruised ego....we knew she could be repaired!!!!
Our proposal, approved by Birmingham Parks and Rec will cost $6500.
Miss Fancy will be repaired by longtime Avondale resident and sculptor Mike Chiarito. Mike will build a metal base and stand which will elevate her upwards of four feet. The original sculpture was plumbed as a fountain...she will now include a solar water feature and solar lighting.
Miss Fancy will now reside on 40th street, up the hill from the library. A small area already exists with stone walls and benches ...this area was the actual site where the elephants were kept. She will have her own separate entrance to the Park.
Miss Fancy was such a popular part of our community, with your help we will be able to bring her home to the Park!
UPDATE: we are almost 2/3 of the way! Please donate and share!
Eight years ago, Avondale Park in Birmingham, Alabama went through a complete and beautiful overhaul. The showpiece of this renovation was the bronze statue of Miss Fancy....the pachyderm who starred in 1913, when the Park was the original location of the Birmingham Zoo.
Six months after Miss Fancy was installed into the pavilion, a drunk driver damaged the sculpture and it was then removed.
I always wondered what happened to her and often thought 'what if she isn't that bad and maybe we can fix her'??? After inquiring for several years as to the whereabouts of the injured elephant, she turned up in a remote storage room at Legion Field!!
With support of Birmingham Parks and Rec and the Friends of Avondale Park, we were able to finally view this popular gal!! And guess what? With only a broken tusk, some cracks and a bruised ego....we knew she could be repaired!!!!
Our proposal, approved by Birmingham Parks and Rec will cost $6500.
Miss Fancy will be repaired by longtime Avondale resident and sculptor Mike Chiarito. Mike will build a metal base and stand which will elevate her upwards of four feet. The original sculpture was plumbed as a fountain...she will now include a solar water feature and solar lighting.
Miss Fancy will now reside on 40th street, up the hill from the library. A small area already exists with stone walls and benches ...this area was the actual site where the elephants were kept. She will have her own separate entrance to the Park.
Miss Fancy was such a popular part of our community, with your help we will be able to bring her home to the Park!
UPDATE: we are almost 2/3 of the way! Please donate and share!
Organizer
Leslie Smukler
Organizer
Birmingham, AL
