Manchester, CT – The Manchester Sculpture Project announces a new way to support efforts to raise funds for a life-size bronze statue of Elisabeth M. Bennet, educator, visionary, innovator, and hero. The statue will be placed on the lawn of Bennet Academy in Downtown Manchester.

Supporters can now purchase a limited edition Sculpture Project Tote bag for $20.00. The bag is 100% cotton canvas. Generously sized at 14.5” x 15.5” x 7”, it will easily hold laptops and files, books, beach gear, or market purchases. It makes a perfect gift for Mother’s Day, graduations, or any day!

The Tote Bag is available at the following locations for in person pick-up or to order for mailing:

• the Manchester Historical Society, 175 Pine St., Manchester, CT 06040, 860 647-9983. (Open Tuesday thru Friday from 10am to 2pm for pick-up. You may also mail a check to the Manchester Historical Society or call to place a credit card order to have the Tote Bag mailed to you at no additional cost. Complete name and address should be included for mailing. All checks should be made out to The Manchester Historical Society-The Sculpture Project.)
• Highland Park Market, 317 Highland St., Manchester, CT 06040. (Open Monday thru Saturday 8am to 7pm and Sundays 8am to 6pm.
• the Town of Manchester Customer Service Center, 41 Center St., Manchester, CT 06040, 860 647-5235. (Open Monday thru Friday 8am to 5pm. Call to make payment and arrange for curbside pick-up until such time as the building is open to the public)

The statue of Elisabeth Bennet will be the second in a series of three statues. The first statue, that of Olympic medalist and four-time Manchester Road Race winner Joe McCluskey, was installed in 2019 in the Charter Oak/East Coast Greenway on the corner of Wyllys and Highland Streets. After the completion of Miss Bennet’s statue, fundraising efforts will continue to place a statue of Emily Cheney Neville, award-winning children’s book author and memoirist in front of the Mary Cheney Library.

For more information on Miss Bennet and the Manchester Sculpture Project go to http://www.manchesterhistory.org/MHS3_SculptureProject.html

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What is The Manchester Sculpture Project? The Manchester Sculpture Project is an independent initiative established in 2016 to honor ordinary Manchester citizens who made extraordinary contributions that helped to shape our community. The Manchester Historical Society is the fiduciary partner of The Sculpture Project.