The 7 1/2-foot green dinosaur statue in front of Kline Library in Harrisburg was a popular feature for years, greeted affectionately as “Dino” by local children, and featured by high school students in prom and senior photos.
But when 300 costumed children visited the library on Halloween, “Dino” was gone. Damage done by vandals forced library officials to remove it.
“We were totally bummed out because we already planned an event for children to take pictures with Dino for Halloween because we knew how much they loved him,” said Jo Sheppard, a member of the board of The Friends of Kline Library.
Members of the community began asking how it could be replaced, said library Manager Michael Clater.
Someone submitted a letter to the editor to PennLive asking just that question. And PennLive employee Crystal Rosensteel came up with an answer.
Children taking a picture with Dino at the Kline Library in Harrisburg.
Today, a nearly 500-pound fiberglass cow, depicted sitting in a chair, reading the Sunday comics section of the Patriot-News, has found a home at the library in Harrisburg’s Allison Hill neighborhood. It was named “The Sunday Cowmics” by Lorna E. Carlson, the graphic designer who decorated the statue.
It was one of 136 unique cow statues decorated by local artists as part of a Cow Parade — an outdoor art installation — that took place across central Pennsylvania 18 years ago.
Originally sponsored by Rite Aid Pharmacy, the statue had been located at the Patriot -News building in Hampden Township since 2004.
“We were delighted to donate Sunday Cowmics to Kline Library,” said Cate Barron, president of PA Media Group. “Everyone can see she’s an avid reader and we’re sure she’s very happy in her new home... Just goes to show, letters to the editor do get results!”
The cow made the move to the library in January.
“It gives us a fun and engaging public art statue that kids and families can be excited about,” Clater said. “We really love the reading theme of having the Cowmics comics included. We’ve had a number of people talking with staff saying how much they love the new statue and how it looks fantastic.”
Mindful of the vandalism of the dinosaur statue, the library placed “The Sunday Cowmics” near the building’s back-door entrance, in hopes of keeping it safe.
“We would love to have it out front, but we didn’t because we feared the same thing would happen to it,” Sheppard said.
She is considering other ways to bring attention to the cow, such as adding seasonal accessories, or holding a competition to give it a nickname.
“We plan on having a naming contest. We’re not going to rename it because it’s already named but it’ll just be a nickname for the kids,” said Sheppard.
To keep up with Kline Library and its upcoming events, click here.
READ MORE:
Public libraries get some good news from Pa. Gov. Wolf’s proposed 2022 budget
Cumberland County Libraries join Longwood Gardens’ 2022 Community Read
New Harrisburg library’s welcome center to honor forgotten Civil War activist
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2022/02/the-sunday-cowmics-replaces-vandalized-dinosaur-statue-at-harrisburgs-kline-library.html
2022-02-26 11:10:00Z
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