It was an ordinary day. The Statue of Liberty had been revealed along the Susquehanna river, constructed by Gene Stilp and placed on the river in 1986. The unique replica stood in the Susquehanna until 1992 when a series of storms forced her removal. In 1993, plans for reconstruction began: a 24-foot granite statue to be built by a group of local residents. It was going to cost an estimated $60,000 to build her again, along with the $250 yearly fee to use the bridge piling. “You’re talking about a first-class statue,” said Russell Enders, Borough Council president. Local plumbers and pipe fitters prepared a crown and torch for the new statue, which were unveiled at a daylong ceremony. Gene Stilp even went so far as to acquire a special granite cutter that used wire instead of diamond, which would save the group thousands in production costs. All seemed well; Dauphin County would once again be watched over by their Lady Liberty. But, somehow, the project hit a snag. Well into 1996, there was still no statue. The Save Susqehanna’s Lady Liberty Committee, led by Gene Stilp himself, had collected countless donations, and had sold mugs, t-shirts, and even Christmas ornaments to fund the project. Some local residents believed that the statue did not need to be replaced, that it was an eyesore detracting from the natural beauty of the river and surrounding landscape. In a letter published by Harrisburg’s Patriot News, resident Pete Barron wrote: “I grew up in the Dauphin area. I’ve fished the river many times in Dauphin. A statue of any kind is not going to improve the scenic beauty. Stand in the Dauphin Narrows and watch the sunset. You can easily see the beauty of nature. Erecting a four-ton statue and thrusting it upon the Susquehanna appears to have become more of a monument to the people involved than to Liberty.” Soon, dissent began to spread throughout the counties involved in the project. Questions were raised over Stilp’s ability to oversee the project. Stilp had to abandon constructing the statue from granite, as it would be much too heavy. He settled on constructing it mostly from fiberglass, wood, and metal. Such a construction would be impossible for a group of men to haul as they did that summer night. Stilp inquired with the Pennsylvania Air National Guard to have the statue airlifted onto the piling, free of charge. His inquiries seemed to fall on deaf ears as five years passed since the fall of the original. Fed up with Stilp’s inability to produce results, and desperate for their landmark to return, the Dauphin Borough Council took over the project in January of 1997. Six months of construction later, a four-ton replica of Lady Liberty was airlifted to the stone pedestal from which she had fallen five years earlier. This new statue, constructed of metal, wood, and fiberglass with a polyester finish cost an estimated $33,000 to complete. It was a triumphant moment for the people involved and the surrounding communities, with over 100 spectators watching the event. Georgina Ciesnolcvicz drove all of the way from Wisconsin clad in patriotic attire: “All I did was bawl.” The statue was met with applause and cheers as it was secured into place. This small Pennsylvania town had its landmark back. “I knew we were going to get it done, no matter what the naysayers said. I’m not a sculptor; I’m just an amateur who is winging it,” Stilp said. There, on the ever-rushing, roaring narrows of the Susquehanna River, Gene Stilp’s Lady Liberty has remained to this day. She endures freezing temperatures and howling winds, the baking sun and violent storms. Stilp is still involved with the statue, organizing a cleanup every few years that draws large numbers from the community. “It’s a tough time for America, so it’s nice to have a reminder of what people will do together. Everyone coming out and helping out. That’s a community,” said local songwriter Alex Kaschock. Strangers and neighbors alike continue to unite behind the preservation of their slice of Americana. Lady Liberty of the Dauphin Narrows serves as an enduring symbol of patriotism for this quaint town rooted in tradition. Picture this. You’re driving along Route 322, through the town of Dauphin, Pennsylvania. As you’re looking at the beautiful Susquehanna River, you notice an all-white figure in the distance. It’s perched atop an overgrown, grey-brick pedestal — if you can even call it that. You squint, trying to see what exactly you’re looking at. “Is.... is that The Statue of Liberty?” you mutter to yourself. You keep driving, getting closer to the mysterious structure. “It IS The Statue of Liberty!” you exclaim. You’re not seeing things. You didn’t hallucinate her on your long drive across the Keystone State. No. There is a replica Statue of Liberty overseeing a section of the Susquehanna River in Dauphin. She stands 25 feet tall on top of an old railroad piling in the near center of the water. This oddity has left motorists confused for decades. Especially those motorists with no time to stop and get a closer look, or to pull out their phones and search her up. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.
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