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Carving draws residents’ attention
Photo
Tony and Jean Frank had an oak tree transformed into this statue as an "Christmas present" to each other. The couple named it "Chief Thunderbolt" after Jean's great-grandfather Thunderbolt.
By ASHLEY LUTHERN
aluthern@vindy.com
For the third time in one hour, a car slowed as it passed Tony Frank’s house on the corner of Pinecrest and South Inglewood.
“I didn’t think it would create such a stir,” Frank said, referring to the newly-carved 10-foot statue of a Native American Indian in his yard.
Frank and his wife, Jean, recently moved into their house in Austintown, and seeing the tall oak tree in the yard, Frank began to worry.
“I’ve always hired someone to take care of the lawn work while I was working and I don’t like doing it anyway,” said Frank, who is a retired Youngstown police officer.
He added that at age 73, he doesn’t have the energy for cutting grass, cleaning the gutters and raking and mulching the tree’s leaves.
Frank said he and his first wife would travel around looking for antiques, but she never let him get the miniature statue of an American Indian he always wanted. When he and Jean, both previously widowed, married and moved, Frank got his wish. Jean agreed to the project, saying that her great-grandfather was a Native American named Thunderbolt.
“It was our Christmas present to each other and I tell everyone that that’s Chief Thunderbolt out there,” Frank said.
The cutting and carving of the tree cost about $3,000. Professional woodcarver Michael Blaine of Dream Wood spent three days turning the stump into a work of art. Using a chain saw and chisels for details, Blaine highlighted the natural changes in color of the oak.
“I do mostly private on-site commissions, but also some shows. Bear and eagles statues are always popular in custom work,” said Blaine, who is a four-time international extreme power carving champion.
So far, the response from neighbors has been positive.
“I couldn’t believe the excitement,” Frank said. “One lady stopped when I was outside and said ‘Thank you for improving the neighborhood.’ I wasn’t expecting that.”