There is nothing quite like bear hunting in Boyertown. The observant hunter will notice bears of every color of the rainbow. An experienced hunter can discover a bear that resembles Abraham Lincoln, a bear that looks like a dinosaur, a bear dressed as a doctor, and a bear covered with bubbles and smiling fish. Some are sitting, some are walking on four legs, and some bears are standing upright. One mighty standing bear, located in front of Body-Borneman Insurance at 17 East Philadelphia Avenue in downtown Boyertown, is balancing on one leg, wearing spikes and carrying a football.
The newest bear, “Wyatt the Pooler Bear,” is sponsored by the YMCA and can be found this summer relaxing at the Boyertown Community Pool. Just look for a huge, white, standing bear decked out in red shades, yellow and orange flowered swim trunks and a red lifeguard float.
MAMA & PAPA BEAR
The bear population in Boyertown has been growing steadily since 2004, when the first bears were unveiled, according to Jane “Mama Bear” Stahl. Inspired by public art projects in Chicago and Washington, D.C., Jane first brought the idea to her husband, Paul “Papa Bear” Stahl, in 2003. After doing some research, Paul pronounced the idea feasible, if the community supported it.
Almost 10 years and 63 bears later, residents and visitors can clearly see the support of the Boyertown community. The imaginative styles of Boyertown’s well-loved mascot – from the whimsical to the artsy to the classic – reveal the town’s diverse community spirit.
Each bear represents cooperation between people of different ages, backgrounds and professions, says Jane, a retired high school English teacher who taught in Boyertown for 30 years.
“The bears brought the community together, and they also bring people of all ages a lot of joy,” says Jane, who worked with many high school students on the project. “Business people, artists, community volunteers and students all worked together to raise the funds and create the bears. For me, the students were the magic! The sponsors loved meeting the kids. And the students benefited from talking to adults and learning about local businesses.”
THE BEAR FUTURE
While most cities auction off public art to raise funds, that is not the destiny of the Boyertown Bears. The sponsors who paid for the bears own them, and they can display them as long as they wish. “We didn’t go into this as a fundraiser,” says Jane. “We wanted to beautify Boyertown and bring people together.”
The hollow, fiberglass bears are usually decorated with acrylic paints and then clear coated to protect them from the weather. The artists who created them treat injured bears.
The project is open-ended, says Jane, and anyone interested in sponsoring a bear should contact her. Each bear costs $2,500. Some bears have one sponsor, while others are sponsored by several similar businesses. For example, “The Bearrister” – which sports a powdered wig and a black robe – is sponsored by several local law firms.
“There appears to be no cure for Bear Fever,” says Jane.
BY FRANCINE M. SCOBORIA | PHOTOS BY MIKE NOBLE
