Railhenge Sculpture Proposal

Russ Riendeau, a St. Charles resident and sculptor with other public sculpture installations, will be presenting a proposal to request the city's permission to utilize the small piece of vacant and used property off Rt. 31, south of the Boyscout Headquarters on the west side of Rt. 31. The property is the circle of grass that the bike trail coming off the covered bridge over the river encircles as it winds down to street level. Russ, working with the St. Charles Arts Council, and research via the St. Charles History Museum and St. Charles Business Alliance, has a design for a sculpture installation titled "Railhenge."

This sculpture, with a similar concept of the famous Stonehenge, would be an abstract installation of 13 vertical lengths  and shapes of actual railroad track in a roughly 35' diameter circle that would also have dramatic night lighting as well. This sculpture is to recognize both the rich and important railroad history of St. Charles bygone era in the mid-1800s to the the mid- 1900s, as well as honoring the efforts of St. Charles citizens that were part of the Underground Railroad as they risked much to help freedom-seeking slaves during the Civil War to escape to freedom to the northern states and Canada. Many of the homes in St. Charles were used as secret locations to house and transport slaves with a network of others.

Currently, there are no sculptures in the city that showcase our rich and unique history of railroads in the Fox River Valley

This sculpture, easily accessible, would aid in boosting tourism, pride of working and living in St. Charles, expand the education of our children, increase people using more of our local business to generate more tax revenue, and also improve the overall first impressions of travelers on Rt. 31 coming from the North thru our River North Arts Corridor being championed by the Arts Council.