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75 °F Forecast | Road Cams Saturday, August 28, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Prime Times Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend July 13, 2004 Caveman’s comeback won’t please everyone By SANNE SPECHT Mail Tribune GRANTS PASS — The city’s controversial Caveman statue, torched and badly damaged by vandals on Independence Day, is getting a new lease on life thanks to a little help from some local businesses. The 17-foot-tall fiberglass statue has been the town’s unofficial greeter at the corner of Morgan Lane and Sixth Street since it was installed on Memorial Day, 1971. For 33 years, the lumpy statue has withstood wind, weather and the wishes of some that it would go the way of the Neanderthals — extinction. "We’ve had controversy about (the statue) all along," said Caveman Club representative Hank Geiske. "Everybody’s got an opinion." Geiske, a member of the civic group for 45 years, said the Caveman was created to draw attention to Oregon Caves and promote tourism in Grants Pass. The club still owns the statue and is responsible for its upkeep. Geiske, 77, said membership has dwindled "from a high of 300 to about 20 members." Advertisement The Cavemen used to promote the caves by appearing in parades and Boatnik celebrations in full caveman regalia. They were famous for "capturing" crowd members and politicians and placing them in their cages.The Cavemen were absent from this year’s Boatnik festivities. "We’re getting on in age," said Geiske. "Not too many of us are active enough to march in a parade."However, he said, while the Cavemen’s strength and numbers might be dwindling, the Caveman is still popular with much of the town’s population. Grants Pass art gallery owner Sonny van Kempen ran afoul of the Cavemen when she put a black mask on the statue to promote the 2002 Masked Ball benefiting the Grants Pass Museum of Art. Asked to remove the mask, Van Kempen complied — with the help of a local fire truck ladder — and said she has no hard feelings. In fact, she said, she loves the beast-like fellow. "I’d like to have the Caveman in my front yard," she said. Responding to statements that this particular piece of public art no longer represents Grants Pass, Van Kempen replied, "There are people with polished taste and people with eclectic taste. I have eclectic tastes. "Besides, he has been a landmark for all these years," she added. "There is history here." But not everyone thinks the statue should make a comeback once repaired. Medora Nankervis, local artist and founding member of the GPMA, said the statue "is a work of art." But the Caveman might be better located elsewhere, she said. "I think it should be out near Cave Junction, where the caves are," she said. "It doesn’t insult me. It’s just not in the right place for the Caveman’s sake." Public debate spilled over into arson when vandals poured a flammable liquid on the Neanderthal’s body and placed a road flare on the pedestal sometime around 11:30 p.m. on July 4. Investigators suspect two teenage boys of setting the statue ablaze. The fire took a heavy toll, said Geiske. The statue was blackened from head to foot. "He went up in a flash," said Geiske. The statue was deemed unsafe by the city’s fire department and removed from its pedestal. Caveman Towing carefully transported the statue to Summer Breeze Kayaks for some much-needed body work. Damage was initially estimated at $2,500. But final costs have yet to be determined. Police request that anyone with information about the crime call the city’s detective division at 541-474-6370. A reward of $2,500 is being offered by businesses and the Chamber of Commerce for information leading to the arrest of the culprits. Repair donations can be made to the Cavemen Club, care of the Grants Pass Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 970, Grants Pass, OR 97528. Reach reporter Sanne Specht at 776-4497 or e-mail [email protected] . Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. 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