Found in a park near the river in Charles City, IA. The plaque isn't at all helpful as it just has someone's name on it.
Posted Aug 7, 2018, 8:32 PM UTC
46
My guess is the person named on the plaque worked for or helped establish the local water company, or perhaps local water infrastructure like a set of locks. The valve wheel and housing look like water stuff to me. The rock is an attempt to make it art.
1
That's an interesting thought for sure. There is a small damn on this section of the river not far downstream but it's not large enough to contain a lock system or even gates to control the flow; it's the type that's just meant for flood control essentially. Still, I'm wondering if this could be part of an old water mill for making flour; although the stone doesn't appear to be shaped in a way that would work in one?
1
If it has a plaque with a name on it, it is probably art. Have you tried googling the name to see if any (local) artists turn up in the search?
It was a memorial plaque...in memory of some local guy that my wife recognized being from the area, like his family donated it to the park.
Being important enough for a plaque usually means having a newspaper article about the plaque placing. If the plaque and the artwork are related it will surely be mentioned in the article.
Does your local or regional newspaper have a searchable online archive?
That's a good thought but I was just visiting the area and this stone thing intrigued me as I can usually figure these types of things out!