Iconic 'Plantation Man' statue to be restored in East Longmeadow for Fourth of July
EAST LONGMEADOW, Mass. (WWLP) – A beloved piece of local Americana is making a patriotic comeback, thanks to the collaboration of several East Longmeadow businesses and community leaders.
When and where fireworks are taking place in western Mass.
The statue, affectionately known as 'Plantation Man,' is being restored and will be unveiled in time for the town's annual Fourth of July Parade and Summer Carnival.
Originally installed as the Uncle Sam figure at Mutual Ford in Springfield during the 1970s, the statue later stood for years at the former Plantation Inn in Chicopee. After the inn closed, the statue was salvaged in 2013 by Charlie Arment Jr. of Charlie Arment Trucking, who preserved the figure from further decay.
Now, through a joint effort involving the Arment family of Charlie Arment Trucking and Deer Park Recycling, the Sullivan family of East Village Tavern, Allied Flooring & Paint, and York Street Industries, the statue will be restored and returned to public view. Allied Flooring & Paint is supplying materials for the restoration, which will give the statue a fresh patriotic look.
The restored figure will be permanently installed in the parking lot shared by East Village Tavern and Allied Flooring & Paint, a property owned by the Burack family. Organizers hope the statue's return will provide East Longmeadow families and visitors with a symbol of shared history and civic pride.
'Keeping town traditions alive is something we deeply care about, especially when they bring our community together around shared history and pride,' said East Village Tavern owner John Sullivan. 'Restoring the 'Plantation Man' is about more than just nostalgia; it's a tribute to patriotism, local legacy, and the spirit of East Longmeadow.'
Sullivan credited the Arment family for their inspiration and community leadership, adding, 'We all have young families, and it's an honor to help preserve these traditions so our kids can grow up with the same small-town pride and values that shaped us.'
He also thanked Jose Morgado, the Burack family, Hampden County Sheriff Nick Cocchi, and members of the Hampden County Sheriff's Department for their contributions to the project.
The statue's unveiling will coincide with the town's Independence Day festivities, offering a timely celebration of heritage, unity, and local pride.
WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.
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