Baldwin statue near complete

The full-scale version of a statue being built in the image of Arcadia founder Elias “Lucky” Baldwin is ready for bronzing.

Sculptor Alfred Paredes stands next to his statue of Lucky Baldwin before it gets bronzed.

Artist Alfred Paredes’ statue, which he has dubbed, “A Dawn of the West,” is finished with his portion of the statue, which is now on it’s way to the bronze foundry to be cast, according to Baldwin’s great-great-great granddaughter Margaux Viera, who commissioned the statue with sister Heather Gibson.

The statue depicts Baldwin in his very last years — he died less than a month short of his 80th birthday — standing tall, holding his Western hat in his left hand down to his side.

Close look at the detail work on the Lucky Baldwin statue.

In January the Arcadia City Council approved spending about $20,000 to build a pedestal on which the statue would stand in the rose garden west of the Community Center parking lot in the area separating Campus Drive and eastbound Huntington Drive at Holly Avenue. The statue could be ready for installation as eaarly as June. Eastbound drivers will get the best front view of the statue which is planned to face west towards Baldwin’s beloved ranch and buildings still standing in what is now the L.A. County Arboretum.

— By Scott Hettrick