Stories surrounding the imposing memorial statue marking the grave of Laura Van Mitchell Kelly in the Kosciusko City Cemetery have been a source of many legends through the years, creating a sense of mystery.
During the past several years the monument has been defaced by vandals, and for the second time a hand is missing. Vandals broke her hand from the statue; it was recovered and reattached. The same hand is missing again.
Now an effort is underway to raise funds to have another hand sculpted and attached. Reattaching the hand several years ago was done at a cost of $10,000. For the current project a sculptor will prepare a mold of her hand which clutches an anchor and with a complete restoration of the statue the cost is expected to be considerably more than the previous repair.
Laura Ann Hooff Kline of Phoenixville, Pa., is the only great-grandchild of Laura Kelly and the family plans to help defray the cost of restoration with the sale of a book compiled by Kline. In light of Kelly’s continuing role in the history of Kosciusko, Kline has compiled a book giving the true story of the life of her great-grandmother in hopes of dispelling some of the myths that have circulated about her. Kline’s hope is that the book will encourage a more sympathetic understanding of the meaning behind the memorial.
She is offering proceeds from the sale of the book to go for the restoration of the statue.
According to local historian Jewette Battles, the books will be available this fall. Donations of $100 are now being accepted at the Kosciusko-Attala Partnership office which will ensure one of the 50 books that Kline is having printed.
History of the statue tells the story of Laura’s husband Clay sending a photograph of his wife along with one of her dresses to a sculptor in Italy who created a 15-foot, life-size statue and decorative pedestal which was erected on a granite base. It marks her grave in the family plot of the Kosciusko City Cemetery on South Huntington Street.
From a third story window at the Kelly home on East Jefferson Street, Clay Kelly was able to see the perfect likeness of his deceased love in the cemetery.
The statue is included in the Towers and Turrets: Driving and Walking Tour of Kosciusko. It has been included in a Main Street tour featuring some of former Kosciusko residents in which a couple portrayed Laura and Clay Kelly dressed in period attire. “It is very much a part of Kosciusko history and we want to continue having it on our tour,” said Battles.
The inscription for Laura on the pedestal of the statue reads, “As a wife, devoted; as a mother, affectionate; as a friend, ever kind and true. In life she exhibited all the graces of a Christian; in death, her redeemed spirit returned to God who gave it.”
