Statues spruced up for Schumacher Homecoming – by Ron Grech (Timmins Daily Press – May 8, 2014)

The Daily Press is the city of Timmins broadsheet newspaper.

TIMMINS – The timing is perfect, with the Schumacher Homecoming reunion just around the corner. The refurbished statues of community founder Fred Schumacher and legendary prospector Sandy McIntyre were unveiled in the Schumacher parkette Thursday.

The Sandy McIntyre statue had been damaged and required a new hand. The Fred Schumacher statue had some holes and the brim of his hat was broken. Both are made of copper and received some shining up from the green oxidization that had built up.

There was also graffiti removed from the headframe-shaped monument at the entrance of the park and its plaque was cleaned up so the lettering is now more legible.

“Any time you are able to reintroduce pieces that speak to your culture and heritage, it is significant. This is who we are and what we’re all about,” said Guy Lamarche, manager of tourism, events and communications for the City of Timmins.

“There is a reunion underway here (scheduled during the May Run long weekend), so timing being what it is, it could not have been any better. I’m happy we were able to pull this off for those who are coming back home and for those who live here.”

Lamarche said organizers of the Homecoming are anticipating about 200 people.

The refurbishing was done by Sudbury-area sculptor Tyler Fauvelle whose work is very familiar to Timmins residents.

He was the artist who created the seven-foot bronze sculptures of Sandy McIntyre, Benny Hollinger and Jack Wilson located in front of the Timmins Museum: National Exhibition Centre.

Fauvelle is currently involved in another Timmins project, refurbishing the seven concrete statues that were previously displayed throughout the now-shuttered Underground Gold Mine Tour site. The statues depict a variety of themes including miners pouring gold, panning or drilling into rock.

“He did refurbish the lion’s share of the statues from the mine tour,” said Lamarche. “There are still two pieces that have to be mounted on rock.”

Fauvelle was among those who attended the unveiling of the refurbished statues in Schumacher Thursday.

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