Black Hawk unveiling canceled until touch-ups can be done to iconic Oregon statue

OREGON – Saturday's unveiling of the iconic and newly restored Black Hawk statue is canceled, but not because of COVID-19.

When the scaffolding finally was removed from the statue early this year, many believed it was finished after a years-long restoration process.

Engineers conducted an inspection and concluded, though, that it was “90 to 95%” done and some touch-up work would be required, said Jan Stilson, Chairman of the Black Hawk Area Restoration and Development Committee, and Oregon Mayor Ken Williams.

“More concrete work needs to be done,” Williams said. “It may use a lift truck or scaffolding again. It’s up to the conservators.

"It’d be inappropriate to have a grand unveiling and then touch-up started afterward."

An April 30 fundraiser for the statue’s upkeep also is rescheduled to Aug. 5. Donors played a large part in getting the statue to where it is now.

When the scaffolding was removed, Stilson noticed some touch-ups that could be done, she said, adding that she’s interested to see how the concrete will cure over the summer.

“There’s some damage to the old concrete in the front of the blanket,” Stilson said. “They did some sandblasting to blend the new patch with the old. On the left elbow there’s a ledge left by the mold.”

It is not known what work was to be done, or when. A call to the Illinois Conservation Foundation, which is in charge of the restoration, was not immediately returned.

Lowden State Park is one of 60 in the state that were allowed to reopen today.