A group of residents along with the Sippican Historical Society have selected a sculptor and design for a privately funded bronze statue of Elizabeth Taber, and on October 16 the Marion Board of Selectmen gave the statue committee permission to place it on town-owned land at Bicentennial Park, across from the Town House and the Elizabeth Taber Library on Spring Street.
Committee member Judith Rosbe said the statue will coincide with the 100thanniversary of women’s right to vote, and also with the New Bedford Whaling Museum’s program “Lighting the Way,” a celebration of the historic women of the South Coast.
“We felt that she was such an important person in Marion,” said Rosbe.
Rosbe recounted a bit of Taber history, saying Taber returned to Marion at age 80 and built six historical structures in town.
“She was Marion’s fairy godmother,” said Rosbe.
The statue committee interviewed three sculptors and unanimously chose the New Bedford-based figurative sculptor Erik Durant.
Durant created two prominent public works in New Bedford – the New Bedford Fishermen’s Tribute Monument at the wharf, and the Giant Squid at the entrance of the Whaling Museum.
Rosbe said the committee viewed some of Durant’s renderings and selected a statue of a life-sized Taber sitting on a granite bench; in one hand she holds a book, and in the other she cups her pipe. The book, Rosbe explained, is because Taber was a teacher in Marion. The pipe, she continued “… is something she smoked every day.”
Frank McNamee, president of the Sippican Historical Society, said the society has pledged $50,000 towards the statue, a roughly $150,000 project that will include lighting, landscaping, and an endowment for ongoing maintenance well into the future.
Betsy Fallows, in charge of the fundraising for the statue, said in addition to the society’s pledged $50,000, Tabor Academy has pledged $10,000, as well as $40,000 in private donations, leaving just an additional $50,000 needed.
“I anticipate, with … additional outreach for some major donors across the two-year project … we will probably exceed that $150,000 target.”
Any excess funds, Fallows said, would go towards the endowment.
Committee member Al Winters said, at first, the group was eyeing a spot between the Town House and the library for the statue, but after consulting with the artist, chose the spot across the street.
“It’s relatively open so that the statue and the bench would be where … [there is a] clear view,” said Winters.
“She would be looking at two of her buildings that she built – the Town House and the library,” said Rosbe.
The project will not cost the Town of Marion anything, Rosbe emphasized, and once the statue is erected, it will belong to the Town.
“Sounds good to me,” said Selectman Randy Parker.
The final plans will come before the board once they are ready.
Also during the meeting, a dog hearing resulted in deeming a dog belonging to David and Jennifer MacDonald of 40 Spring Street “dangerous” after their dog, Stella, attacked a smaller dog at the Sippican School playground. That dog subsequently died from its injuries.
Animal Control Officer Susan Connor and Police Officer Adam Murphy presented the facts to the board, which took place mid-September.
According to victim statements and witness statements, Stella, a 130-pound South African Mastiff rescue dog, suddenly attacked Winnie, a small toy dog belonging to Susan Hagan and her 7-year-old son, Griffin.
According to Officer Murphy, Mrs. MacDonald entered the playground area with Stella as a young child was petting Winnie on a bench. Both dogs were on leashes.
“This larger animal, out of nowhere, just struck and grabbed a hold of the smaller dog and had it in his mouth,” Murphy said, reviewing the witness statement. “The dog handler couldn’t gain control of the animal.”
A passerby came over and assisted Mrs. MacDonald in gaining control over Stella and release Winnie from Stella’s jaws. The witness alleged that Mrs. MacDonald and Stella “just walked off.”
Once Stella was identified and the MacDonalds reached, Stella was quarantined for ten days.
It was then discovered that there was a second incident involving Stella, a prior incident that happened just days before the incident with Winnie. The man caring for that dog declined to file a police report, and that night was present to share his knowledge and spoke somewhat in defense of Stella. But because Hagan also declined to file a police report, Connor and Murphy had to rely on the statement of witness Alexandra Goodman as they searched for Stella’s owner.
“It was vey difficult because most of our information was third-hand,” said Connor. “We had to do a little bit of detective work.”
Once Mrs. MacDonald was informed that Winnie had died, Connor said Mrs. MacDonald was “very forthcoming.”
Mrs. MacDonald spoke to the board, saying she and her family only recently adopted Stella late this past July, and both Mr. and Mrs. MacDonald have been animal owners their whole lives.
“We feel absolutely horrible for what happened and offer our sincere condolences to the family,” said Mrs. MacDonald. She described Stella as beautiful, big, “and people are always asking about her,” just as Hagan was asking about her just before the attack, Mrs. MacDonald alleged.
“The dogs were doing what dogs do, getting to know each other,” said Mrs. MacDonald. As the two women talked, Stella and Winnie’s tails were wagging, and they were sniffing each other just before Stella attacked. “I was in complete shock.”
A couple days later, Hagan’s mother, Judy Hagan, visited Mrs. MacDonald and told her Winnie had died. She gave Mrs. Hagan copies of all vaccination records, and offered to pay the $2,400 vet bill.
“I just want to say that I’m extremely saddened by everything that’s happened,” Mrs. MacDonald said. She added that the family found Stella, a “puppy mill mom” rescue, online. “She’s just a big ball of love. I’d never seen her like that, and the dog we know is like the polar opposite.”
Stella has other dog friends she plays with regularly, she said. As for that incident with her neighbor’s dog, she said she didn’t know how or why Stella snapped at the dog, and has since purchased a new harness and muzzle.
Judy Hagan read into the record a heart-wrenching letter written by her daughter, Susan, describing their heartache and their grief, and shared photos of Winnie with Susan Hagan’s young son.
“Winnie was a good dog, smart and attuned to the people she loved,” Judy Hagan read. “Finding out that the dog attacked another dog before Winnie has made me so angry I can’t even describe it.”
After, Judy Hagan alluded to the $1,500 it cost her daughter to buy Winnie, suggesting she would not be able to replace the dog at such a cost.
Mrs. MacDonald offered to read four letters attesting to Stella’s good temperament, but Selectmen Chairman Norm Hills asked her to hand them copies for the record instead.
“I too have owned dogs all my life,” said Hills, even rescue dogs. “A dog that does this unpredictably, I would really worry about just because it’s unpredictable. I don’t know if you can train the dog not to do something like this.”
The board discussed possible actions to take, and voted unanimously to deem Stella “dangerous,” and imposed three demands in order to ensure the public’s safety: Stella must be securely confined both when inside and outside the house on the property, must be kept on a leash no longer that 3 feet long and muzzled when off the property, and the MacDonalds must obtain insurance for no less than $100,000.
“I think those are reasonable options,” said Connor, who further advised Mrs. MacDonald to seek help from a dog trainer on how to read Stella’s behavior and control her better.
“And I don’t think dogs belong on playgrounds,” added Connor. “I think that is a dangerous situation for any child – and animals are unpredictable, even the good-natured animals.”
Mrs. MacDonald concurred and said she also found the demands reasonable.
The next meeting of the Marion Board of selectmen is scheduled for November 6 at 7:00 pm at the Marion Town House.
Marion Board of Selectmen
By Jean Perry