Iola sculpture placed in storage
By Holly Neumann
Vidar will spend the winter in storage.
The Iola landmark, a sculpture carved by Buzzsaw Bob Halverson, has been a tourist attraction on State Street since 2010.
Vidar stands approximately 20 feet tall and features a Viking with skis on his back.
When he was originally carved, they gave him a 10-year life span before he had to be cut down and moved to a new spot,” said Kathy Briquelet, village board member. “That move just happened to come a little earlier than expected.”
The village sold a piece of property to Bank First National, where a new bank is being constructed.
“Vidar stood too close to where their building was going to be, so we had to get him down and move him in order for them to complete construction,” Briquelet said. “This was something that was in the plans anyway, so the timing worked well.”
On Aug. 13, a team of people put straps around the statue and steadied him as Noah Swenson cut him from his base.
They carefully lowered him to the ground and he later received a police escort to the Iola Car Show grounds, where he will be stored for the winter months and where needed repairs can be made.
“Next spring, there will be a Vidar raising ceremony,” said Briquelet. “We believe he will be going in the same vicinity of where he was originally.”