In 2003, a University of Kentucky landmark was moved to its
current location. The bronze statue of
James K. Patterson, UK's first president, was moved from its place beside the
UK Main Building to a new location in front of the Patterson Office Tower.
The relocation was part of the restoration of the
Administration Building, which was heavily damaged by fire in 2001.
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Patterson statue, dedication ceremony, 1934
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The Patterson statue, which has been a part of the UK landscape
since its dedication in 1934, has been moved three times -- once from its
original location beside a walkway that connected the Administration Building
with Maxwell Place, to off-campus storage during construction of the Patterson
Office Tower and White Hall Classroom Building in the late 1960s, and then to
its former location on the north side of the Administration Building facing Limestone,
where it sat until 2003.
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| Linda Walters in front of President James K.
Patterson Statue, 1967 |
Workmen used a forklift to move the statue, which weighs an
estimated 1,800 pounds. While preparing
the statue for the move, workers were surprised to find that it was hollow --
"Like a chocolate Easter bunny," one said.
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First location of Patterson statue with White Hall men's
dormitory on left, 1934
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Here are some facts regarding the Statue of James K.
Patterson
•
James K. Patterson was the University of
Kentucky’s first president, serving from 1869 to 1910.
•
The bronze sculpture, which represents Patterson
seated and holding a walking stick in one hand and a sheaf of papers in the
other, was dedicated June 1, 1934, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of
Patterson’s birth.
•
The statue was sculpted by Augustus Lukeman of
Richmond, Va., at a cost of $25,000, provided by money left by Patterson and
his brother Walter.
•
The statue was originally located beside a
walkway that connected the Administration Building with Maxwell Place. That
walkway no longer exists.
•
The statue stood at its original site for 34
years before being placed in storage off campus in 1967 during construction of
the Patterson Office Tower and the White Hall Classroom Building complex.
•
On April 21, 1969, the statue was returned to
campus and placed on a base west of the Patterson Office Tower, where it stood
for another 34 years.
•
On July 22, 2003, as part of the restoration of
the fire-damaged UK Administration Building, the statue was moved to a new site
near the main entrance of the Patterson Office Tower.
•
The statue is a heavily photographed subject on
UK campus.
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