Lincoln-Bedell (continued)

Billie Dibble, past Town Historian and longtime staff member at Patterson Library, suggested the idea of a public commemoration of the Abraham Lincoln - Grace Bedell story.  Dr. Kent L. Brown answered her call in 1992, and formed the Westfield Lincoln-Bedell Statue Committee to accomplish this task. 

Don Sottile was selected as the sculptor for the Lincoln-Bedell statues in 1994.  He is a Westfield native, graduating from Westfield Academy and Central School in 1964.  His studio is in Himrod, New York.  He earned his Bachelors Degree from the S.U.N.Y. College at Buffalo with majors in Sculpture and Painting and has made his living as a professional artist. Sottile’s concept of the Lincoln-Bedell story with the two larger-than-life, separated figures depicts the excitement and anticipation of Grace’s meeting with the great man.  The statues were unveiled on July 10, 1999.

Foundryman Dexter Benedict played an integral role in the casting of the sculptures of Bedell and Lincoln.  Sottile relied on Benedict’s expertise for the technique in the casting process. Benedict is also a sculptor and a close friend of Sottile’s.  He helped cast the bronze figures at his own establishment, Fireworks Foundry, in the Penn Yan area.

updated 7/6/2007