GENESEO – Kids, grownups and teddy bears filled Main Street Saturday morning for the first annual Teddy Bear Parade since the bear fountain's return. The morning rain held off and the parade went from St. Michael's Episcopal Church to the bear fountain, where Geneseo Mayor Dick Hatheway, Geneseo Town Supervisor William Wadsworth and Association for the Preservation of Geneseo member Kurt Cylke welcomed the restored fountain. "I'm just here … [Read more...]
Bear Fountain, ‘Symbol of Helping Others,’ Returning to Geneseo
GENESEO – Almost 130 years to the day, a new bear fountain arrived on Main Street Wednesday morning. A Village work crew, Rock of Ages and Moorland Studios are now assembling the fountain. The GeneseeSun.com is streaming the project live from the roof of our building, 75 Main Street, on our Facebook page here. "The symbol of our community is being restored," said Kurt Cylke, member of the Association for the Preservation of Geneseo (APOG) … [Read more...]
Despite Third Crash, Geneseo Bear Fountain to Remain in Main Street
GENESEO – Despite the third vehicle striking the bear fountain within the past year and some buzz on social media suggesting the bear fountain be moved, the Village of Geneseo still plans to restore the fountain where it stands in the intersection of Main and Center Streets. On April 7, 2016, a semi truck struck and damaged the fountain beyond repair. On Nov. 27, 2016, a different pickup struck the fountain and veered into the Village Cafe, an … [Read more...]
Ruined Bear Fountain’s Fate Officially Rests in Village’s Hands
GENESEO – Liberty Mutual gave official notice to the Geneseo Village Board of Trustees that the fate of the badly damaged bear fountain basin now firmly rests in the Village's hands. Until this formal notice, final say on whether Moorland Studios could perform restoration work and the ultimate fate of the ruined original granite basin rested with Liberty Mutual, which is the insurer for Upstate Farms, which owned the truck that crashed into … [Read more...]
Not Again! Pickup Crashes into Ruined Bear Fountain
UPDATE: WATCH: Pickup Strikes Bear Fountain in Front of Police UPDATE: Cops Ticket Rush Driver in Bear Fountain Crash GENESEO – A pickup truck crashed into the already destroyed bear fountain and then a nearby Main Street building Sunday night. According to first responders on scene, the truck struck the fountain while headed north on Main Street and veered into the front of 70 Main Street at about 9:01 p.m. "So we heard a 'skirt' and … [Read more...]
Bear Fountain Nears Restoration Phase
GENESEO – Main Street's bear fountain could soon start its restoration process. Mayor Richard Hatheway said that Moorland Studios, the ones restoring the fountain, hope to find the necessary brown stone and begin restoration. "There are great expectations for this visit," said Hatheway. "They hope to find the brown stone and granite, then the pieces will be in place to start fixing things." Moorland Studios found the granite in September … [Read more...]
Perfect Granite to Replace Bear Fountain Found in Connecticut
GENESEO – A three-month search is over for the perfect granite to repair the bear fountain. Mayor Richard Hatheway said that pending a few formalities, the stone is ready to come up to Geneseo from Stony Creek Quarry in Branford, Connecticut to be shaped into the fountain's new bowl. "Our consultants at Moorland Studios have already looked at it and it is a good replacement," said Hatheway. "We are awaiting a final report that will allow us … [Read more...]
Emmeline Ready for Selfies at Livingston County Museum
GENESEO — Emmeline has officially arrived at the Livingston County Museum on Center Street, which will be her home until the fountain is reconstructed over the next year. According to Anna Cylke, Museum Administrator of the Livingston County Museum, the bronze statue is in the auditorium on top of the piano, a spot which positions her perfectly for selfies with and up close, personal photos. "It's rare to see her features so up close," said … [Read more...]
Emmeline to Sleep at Livingston County Museum for One Year
GENESEO – The much loved and sorely missed bronze bear which sat atop the iconic fountain on Main Street will sleep at the Livingston County Museum on Center Street for the next year or so. The Geneseo Board of Trustees agreed at their meeting on Monday that the museum would be a safe place for the bear while the monument restoration team at Moorland Studios and their stoneworking partners get to work fixing the fountain after a tractor … [Read more...]