Sierra Chef not putting aprons on Lillian statue

Not long after the Lillian Virgin Finnegan statue was installed back in 2019, backers sought video surveillance to prevent people from accosting it.

In the two years since, members of the Lillian Statue Maintenance Committee have decorated the statue reflecting the holiday.

On Oct. 29, a couple removed a Halloween related apron from the statue in full view of the security cameras and deposited it on the doorstep of Sierra Chef in Genoa.

Committee member Larry Smedley, who is husband to artist Debrine Smedley, contacted The Record-Courier on Sunday morning about the apron removal, including video of two people taking the apron around 9 p.m.

Sierra Chef owner Cynthia Ferris-Bennett said her business doesn’t have anything to do with the statue.

“Please make it clear that we have nothing to do with aprons going on the statue,” she said in an email to The Record-Courier on Tuesday morning. “While we do wear aprons at Sierra Chef, we have nothing to do with the situation. I cannot believe what a hot button this has become for some folks.”

She said no note was left with the apron, but that the restaurant has been receiving calls whenever one is placed on the statue.

“While we did not receive a note we do receive anonymous rude phone calls from folks who don't like the aprons every time they go up,” she said. “We have nothing to do with the aprons.”

A letter to the editor by Debrine Smedley regarding the incident is scheduled to appear in Thursday’s edition of The Record-Courier.

In it, she says the committee will continue to place aprons on the statue.

“Lillian is not just a monument, she is one of us, one of the many volunteers,” Smedley said. “We will continue putting the apron on apron during the festive season just like Lillian would have celebrated with the Genoa community.”

Virgin Finnegan is credited, along with Jane Campell and Mary Wyatt, with founding the Candy Dance in 1919.

The statue was a three-year project to celebrate the event’s centennial.