A
mini-rededication
was held
recently for the
Cannery Lady
Statue on First
Street in
Antioch. The
event celebrated
repairs
completed after
the theft of
brass plaques in
May of 2007. The
Antioch
Historical
Society stepped
in to raise part
of the money to
repair the
statue and
oversee the
design changes
and the
engraving of all
the original
names from the
stolen plaques.
Installed in
1996, the
Cannery Lady
became the first
commemorative to
a non-military
working woman in
the western
United States,
according to the
Smithsonian
Institute. The
statue was
originally paid
for by the
selling of tiles
that line the
patio at its
base and by
selling listings
on the plaques.
Current costs
total $5,354 for
repairs, $2,500
of which was
raised by the
Antioch
Historical
Society. The
balance was paid
by the City of
Antioch; Jim
Martin of Martin
Memorials
contributed the
engraving.
A short history
of the monument
was given by Jim
Boccio, the
original
chairman of the
Statue
Committee, and
by Elizabeth
Rimbault,
president of the
Antioch
Historical
Society. Boy
Scout Troop 247
acted as the
color guard and
led the audience
in the flag
salute.
The Antioch
Historical
Society is still
collecting funds
to assist with
the repair of
the murals
downtown. To
contribute, send
funds to the
Antioch
Historical
Society, 1500 W.
Fourth St.,
Antioch, CA
94509 and mark
your check
“Mural Repairs.”
Photos
courtesy of
Elizabeth
Rimbault /
Click here for
more photos
