Thursday, November 26, 2009
Largest monument to the Turkey-Frazee City sets world
record
FRAZEE, MN, USA -- The town of Frazee, Minnesota
— known as the Turkey Capital of the World — hosts a 20 feet
tall turkey statue ("Big Tom") which is known as
a popular roadside attraction and sets the world record for
the Largest
monument to the Turkey
.
This Big Tom stands over 20 feet (6.1 m) tall
and is 17 feet (5.2 m) wide.
It weighs over 5,000 pounds, having 1,000 pounds
of steel reinforcement.
Photo:
Anglerove /Flick
( enlarge
photo
)
The legs were made a little shorter and stouter
than a normal turkey to better handle the weight.
The Largest
monument to the Turkey
is estimated to have 3,000
to 4,000 separate fiberglass feathers, which took the D.W.O.
Fiberglass Company
over 2,000 hours to make.
The original Largest
monument to the Turkey
was built on a metal frame
and covered in cement, fiberglass, cardboard, and insulation.
When it was finished in 1986, it stood 22 feet (6.7 m) tall
and cost $20,000 to build, earning Frazee the title of "Home
of the world's largest turkey."
Because of Big Tom's physical makeup,
it needed frequent repairs. There were also complaints that
Big Tom was not proportioned like a real turkey.
The area committee decided that they needed a
new Big Tom and commissioned artist Dave Oswald (D.W.O.) of
Sparta Wisconsin whose work includes the giant 40 foot Holstien
cow in New Salem, North Dakota and a 180 foot Northern Pike
in Hayward, WI.
When removing the old Largest
monument to the Turkey
in July 1998, a cutting torch
was used to remove the wings. As soon as the torch touched
the bird, Big Tom caught fire, completely destroying the statue.
The new Largest
monument to the Turkey
arrived in Frazee in August
1998. Coming in three separate pieces on a flatbed trailer,
it took eight hours to assemble.
World's
Largest Turkey
Address: Route 10, Frazee, MN
Directions: Hwy 29 to Rt 10. On a hilltop,
southwest side of town, in Lions Park.
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Thursday,
November 26, 2009
