Last week someone stopped in looking for old pictures of the original Shoppers World soldiers being built. He is part of a carpenters’ union whose members are volunteering their time to build replicas of the soldiers. The town is providing the materials and workspace while these generous men are donating their skills and effort. They were asked them to make 6 soldiers to better balance the amount of soldiers displayed throughout town during the holiday season (most soldiers are placed downtown and around the south side)
I was kindly invited to the shop to check out the progress since I was such a big fan of the original Shoppers World. It was a real treat to get to see this project in action. There are two original soldiers that they’ve taken apart to investigate all the support beams and angles. These guys are replicating every inch of the interior and exterior to make them look and hold up just like the originals.
Here are some pictures from my visit.
On a related note, we’ll keep you posted on our upcoming Shoppers World exhibit
Michelle McElroy
Operations Manager
5 Comments
Just to let everyone know, I was the right hand man to Harold Purington in building all of the soldiers. I know every inch of how they came to be the size and shape they are now. I helped to cut and mould and paint all of them. I also put them together and help set them up in the mall. Just so you all know, there were only 18 soldiers built first and the other 5 were built for our five ramps later. There is a picture of Harold and me in the news paper when we were building them. If I can be of any help to you feel free to contact me. I miss my soldiers and wish to have one back someday. I also helped to build the soldier that went into our fountain.
I was the assistant to Harold Purington who built the soldiers. I know every inch of how the soldiers were put together. I was also in the news paper with Harold when we were building them. For many years I have wanted to get one of my soldiers to display at my home, but have been unable to get anyone to give me one. As to know how I know so much about them, I can tell you to look on the soldiers and you will find eith a number of 1 to 18 or writing of a location of where we were to put them in our mall
Unfortunately, it didn’t seem like they are planning that. Just the six regular-sized soldiers the town requested.
Will they be creating the 20 foot tall General?
Any chance they will be rebuilding the
General?