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Published February 17, 2011, 12:00 AM

Pierre


Pierre’s head was screwed off first Friday by a two-man crew from Lipe Brothers Construction & Door. Matt Suoja

  • Pierre’s head was screwed off first Friday by a two-man crew from Lipe Brothers Construction & Door. Matt Suoja
  • “They told me they thought they would lose the feet,” said Sandra Fritz, co-owner of Earthwood Inn, Pierre’s new home. There are plans to fully refurbish the statue and she didn’t rule out renaming the business “Pierre’s Earthwood Inn.”
  • Jerry Lipe, owner of the construction firm, said he got a little nervous about keeping Pierre intact. On Monday his head and body were moved out to the Earthwood Inn.
  • “I’m going to miss him,” said Gigi Aae, owner of the Voyageur Motel. She has been his lookout all of these years as he has stood alone in the vacant lot.
  • He needed a weekend of rest, plus a police escort was warranted as his arms stretched out over the road.
  • “I’m happy for it,” said Ray Morse of Two Harbors. He said when he first started visiting the area in 1974 his kids, they “couldn’t wait to see it.”
  • “I’m going to miss him,” said Gigi Aae, owner of the Voyageur Motel. She has been his lookout all of these years as he has stood alone in the vacant lot.
  • After the workers cut through the concrete surrounding his feet and the telephone poles connecting him to the ground, his frame was hoisted up and the 5,000-pound icon was plopped onto a trailer.
  • After the workers cut through the concrete surrounding his feet and the telephone poles connecting him to the ground, his frame was hoisted up and the 5,000-pound icon was plopped onto a trailer.
  • His feet broke off during the rising but Pierre came out mostly unscathed.