ANITA MAY BALDWIN STATUE TO BE UNVEILED
AT LE MÉRIDIEN HOTEL
October 4, 2021 – The Anita May Baldwin Statue at the Le Méridien Hotel will be unveiled on Monday, October 25, 2021. Anita is the daughter of the City’s founder, Elias Jackson “Lucky” Baldwin. Famed artist Alfred Paredes, who created the Elias Jackson “Lucky” Baldwin statue on the corner of Huntington Drive and Holly Avenue, has finished sculpting his daughter Anita, where she will be featured on the opposite end of the Huntington Drive islands’ hotel property.
“We are very excited to be bringing Anita back to Arcadia,” said Mayor Sho Tay. “I would like to thank the Shen, Liu and Chen Families, Jeff Lee, the Dextra Baldwin McGonagle Foundation, Heather D. Gibson and Margaux L. Gibson, and the Arcadia Historical Society, for their generous donations.”
The Anita statue was sculpted by local artist and southern California native, Alfred Paredes, and is aptly named, “A Legacy of Charity” in honor of Anita’s contributions to life in early Arcadia and throughout California. “On behalf of the Baldwin family, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the Arcadia City Council, the Arcadia Historical Society, the Le Méridien Hotel and all those who have supported this effort to pay homage to my great-great grandmother, Anita May Baldwin,” said Ms. Gibson . “This magnificent statue of Anita will showcase a strong woman who was ahead of her time. I am proud to call Anita May Baldwin my great-great grandmother, and I am truly proud to be a part of this historic project.”
The Le Méridien Hotel’s Grand Opening Celebration is also being held October 25, 2021. For more information about the Anita Statue, please contact the City Manager’s Office at (626) 574-5401.
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About Arcadia
Nestled along the rolling foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains and Angeles National Forest, Arcadia is a charming, family-oriented community with a population of just over 57,000. Located only 13 miles east from downtown Los Angeles, regional transportation networks like the Metro Gold Line connect Arcadia as a premier residential, shopping, and entertainment destination in the San Gabriel Valley. Arcadia is known for its top-rated schools, iconic landmarks, and serene neighborhoods. Arcadia is an award-winning community having been twice named as the Best City in California in which to Raise Kids and the 2017 Most Business Friendly City in Los Angeles County. With the conveniences and amenities of a full-service, mid-size city, Arcadia’s “Community of Homes” provides a quality of life that will go Above & Beyond your expectations.
Submitted by Margaux Viera