Michael Landon Back in Collingswood
The restoration of the Knight Park plaque commemorating Collingswood's most famous native in town history has begun.
Photos
Call it Collingswood's Highway to Healing—Michael Landon is almost back on public display.
His plaque, that is.
As promised by Mayor James Maley, spring has sprung, and Michael Landon is making his return to Knight Park. The circuitous journey of the displaced memorial honoring a man who is arguably Collingswood's most famous native will be drawing to a conclusion soon.
On Monday afternoon, a three-man crew prepared a new foundation for the bronze memorial, which was donated by former Collingswood resident Abbe Effron. The concrete is poured at this hour, but the plaque cannot be installed until later in the afternoon because the rain made the base too wet.
"We'll be releasing some official news this week," said Cassandra Duffey, borough director of community development.
As documented in Patch, the tale of this bizarre odyssey has garnered international attention from fans of the late actor, famous for his starring roles on Highway to Heaven and Little House on the Prairie.
Landon grew up on South Newton Drive in Collingswood.
Stick with Patch for the latest on the story as it develops.
One road town
3:42 pm on Monday, April 23, 2012
Quick question for anyone who can answer. Why was this plaque in the park in the first place, and how come it is going back? I think the Scottish Rite or somewhere downtown (by the clock perhaps) seems more appropriate. Glad to see it back regardless...
Matt Skoufalos
3:44 pm on Monday, April 23, 2012
You can read about the origins of the plaque, which was funded by Abbe Effron to accompany a piece of playground equipment donated by Cindy Landon (Michael's widow), here:
http://collingswood.patch.com/articles/in-the-rubble-of-landon-memorial-more-than-hurt-feelings-linger
john q public
3:46 pm on Monday, April 23, 2012
The Landon Family donated a childrens playset to the park, and Abbe Effron donated the plaque (perhaps funds for the playset, too?). The plaque was mounted on a small concrete pedestal, where it sat for over 20 years. Then suddenly, some "safety sally" lib-tard came along and declared it a dangerous obstruction (even though no one was ever hurt in over 20 years) and it was removed and thrown in the down dump.
Matt Skoufalos
4:02 pm on Monday, April 23, 2012
Hey john q, can you clarify your use of the term "lib tard" so I don't have to delete it outright for sheer offensiveness? Thanks.
One road town
3:58 pm on Monday, April 23, 2012
Thanks for the responses and the link :)
DoneWithNews
4:02 pm on Monday, April 23, 2012
...the saga continues.
Robert Velez
5:04 pm on Monday, April 23, 2012
Libtard is an offensive term used to describe anyone that is not immersed in conservative ideology.
Matt Skoufalos
5:29 pm on Monday, April 23, 2012
My thoughts, too -- let's see if we can keep this place relatively free of name-calling, folks.
Joy Zaleski Messner
6:02 pm on Monday, April 23, 2012
I like that it is back in Knight Park, but agree with One Road Town, an even more appropriate place would be the Scottish Rite Theatre where even more folks could realize that Michael Landon spent his youth growing up in Collingswood.
Abbe Effron
7:26 pm on Monday, April 23, 2012
HI all - It's Abbe Effron. I need to go on record again saying that the plaque was always meant to be placed in the near vicinity of the Little Treehouse on the Prairie. Why would I want the plaque that I wrote, designed and supervised it's creation, plus raised $1400 single handedly for it to be created, to not be near the playground equipment that Cindy Landon so generously donated almost $7000 for? How in the world would anyone know what the piece of playground equipment was if it was not accompanied by a plaque stating that it was in honor and memory of Michael Landon? It would be insulting to Cindy Landon and family and to myself who worked over a year and a half on this project. If someone would like to work on creating another plaque in MIchael's honor and either placing it at the Scottish Rite or Collingswood High that Michael attended, that would be fine, but this plaque is specifically for the Little Treehouse on the Prairie, and like thousands of other memorial or honorary plaques in this country, needs to be with the landmark it is honoring....
Joy Zaleski Messner
8:11 pm on Monday, April 23, 2012
Yes, of course it should stay withbits original intent at the Treehouse. I do know Cindy from another nonprofit that I worked at in Mden and she would be disappointed to see it not displayed for its original intent. I thank you and the others for honoring him this way. And still it would be nice to see him honored at the Scottish Rite as well :-)
Joy Zaleski Messner
8:12 pm on Monday, April 23, 2012
Oops ... sorry for the misspellings - my smartphone out spelled me!
Abbe Effron
9:33 pm on Monday, April 23, 2012
Yes, Cindy told me she is working with the Camden-based group Urban Promise. She is such a generous person and I think we need to do right by her and her family....
Joy Zaleski Messner
11:03 pm on Monday, April 23, 2012
Yes - that is how I know her. She has a great heart for kids.
Linda
8:27 am on Tuesday, April 24, 2012
I agree that the plaque should remain at Knight Park near the Little Treehouse on the Prairie equipment. The removal of the plaque was a disgrace, and I'm glad they are finally (after enough bad publicity) doing the right thing.
Margaret Anderson
7:58 pm on Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Thank you Abbe Effron! Much appreciation for everything you went thru.