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Charles Hackley Sculpture Unveiling
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Muskegon's most prominent founding father, Charles Hackley, has come home - in a bronze sculpture - to watch over the city that bears his name on a park, school and an art collection all within the same downtown block.The full-body sculpture of Hackley sitting on a park bench in front of the new CIM building was unveiled in a ceremony on October 8, 2009. Although the falling rain was heavy at times, patrons enjoyed music by Muskegon High School Big Reds band members, remarks by Muskegon Mayor Steve Warmington and downtown Public Art Committee members, including retired businessman and the main financial contributor, Peter Turner, and Lakeshore Museum Center Executive Director John McGarry.
Turner, also a Public Art Committee member and retired businessman, donated the money for the sculpture — around $70,000. There are several busts of Hackley, but no full statues. Turner made the connection four years ago after visiting Petoskey and seeing a statue of Ignatius Petoskey, for whom that city was named, overlooking the bay.
“I thought the community ought to be reminded of what one man did for this city,” said Turner, who moved to Muskegon in 1972 from Canada. “Hackley in many ways really made Muskegon. He put so much of his money back into the city.”
Annual Report
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