Pig and Wolf

A Brief History of Pig and Wolf

Written by Hanover's own Bill Hammond, original owner of Pig and Wolf

Just Pig

In January of 2001, Pig was born. Made by chainsaw artist, Willy Black, Pig started life indoors, but when cracks started to appear, Bill and Cristina Hammond decided to move Pig outdoors. Not happy with Pig's first placement, Bill moved Pig to a new location in the yard. The next day, a neighbor asked: "Why did you move the Pig?" At that point, knowing that people were paying attention, Pig moved once a week. Pig peered over a fence, or looked down from a high branch in a tree, or directed traffic in the triangle between Park and Lebanon Streets near the Hanover Coop. Pig dressed in a toga and sported the sign "IgPay." Pig stared at a spider's web while holding a placard saying, "Some Pig."

Pig and Wolf

The next year, Wolf joined Pig, and they began to tell more elaborate stories. "The Three Little Pigs" started with a straw house that was subsequently blown down, followed by a stick house on which town officials tacked a building permit for "wolf-rated construction" followed by a brick house perched on the garage at 53 Lebanon Street with Wolf climbing a ladder leaning against the side of the garage.

Stolen!

In 2005, Pig and Wolf were stolen. Though rarely unlocked, Pig and Wolf (dressed as Darth Vader and C3PO) were on the roof of the Coop having a light-saber battle. Two days later, they were gone. Neighborhood kids found pieces of their costumes. People speculated about who might have swiped them. One community member, who wrote a Letter to the Editor pining for the return of Pig and Wolf, worried about what our world had come to.

Seven months later, they returned. Dan Grossman spotted them on a hill of of I-91. Pig was left lying on a grill. Wolf, next to the grill, held a hotdog. When they returned to 53 Lebanon Street, neighbors far and wide brought lawn ornaments to celebrate the return of their dear friends Pig and Wolf.

Pig and Wolf and the Celebration of Hanover's Semiquincentennial

The scope of Pig and Wolf's influence may have been best recognized by the fiberglass replicas that dotted downtown Hanover during Hanover's semiquincentennial celebration in 2011. Artists used the fiberglass pigs and wolves as a canvas, and the subsequent Pig and Wolf Livestock Auction at the Top of the HOP brought in over $40,000 for Hanover Parks and Recreation which was used to fund the construction of Tenney Park.

The Original Pig and Wolf, Today

The original Pig and Wolf are semi-retired, still on the front porch of 53 Lebanon Street. Though much of their mischief is in the past, their adventures are not forgotten. Their stories can be found in Valley News articles, countless pieces of fan mail, and various corners of the Internet. Their legacy lives on, even in the time capsule outside the RWB Community Center that will be opened in the year 2103. And of course, many of the fiberglass Pig and Wolf art pieces can be found around Hanover and Etna. When you need a dose of Pig and Wolf whimsy, you can always find them at the RWB Community Center. 

Pig and Wolf Found The Best Way To Celebrate Hanover's 250th Birthday!

Pig and Wolf are Town Treasures and so they became the perfect subject for the commemorative street art project to celebrate the Town of Hanover when it turned 250 years old in 2011. 

In the spring of 2011, there was a plan to bring 10 new Pigs and 10 new Wolves to town. 20 fiberglass replicas were commissioned to be created by Raymond Paulin of RPF Fiberglass Creations in Berlin, NH. These critters needed the help of local visionary artists to get them “dressed” for their stay. 

When all was said and done, there ended up being 22 statues! A set was gifted to Willy Black. Her daughter Holle painted the pair and presented them to her mother. The "Willy Wolf" and pig greet community members today as they enter the RWB Community Center!

The Project

• Raymond Paulin Fiberglass Creations of Berlin, NH created the 20 statues that were painted and decorated by local artists. A committee reviewed all submissions and determined who was invited to render these critters into wonderful works of art!
• Publicity announcing the arrival of the sculptures led up to their placement around Hanover.
• Events at Hanover Schools created a spirit of fun and interest in the art event.
• Walking maps were created for people to go on a hunt to see all the sculptures.
• Artists and Sponsors were identified on a plaque on their sculpture and included in publicity surrounding the event.
• Sculptures were then sold at auction in early October 2011.
• Artist bio and project description.

Auction at the Top of the Hop

On September 25th the Live Stock Auction took place at the Top of the Hop. Residents, artists, and fans of the duo gathered to see who would take home these uniquely Hanover art pieces. The Ray School PTO fundraised in order to purchase their beloved Ray Pig painted by students. Members of the organization bid against each other until they reached the amount they had raised. A bidding war broke out over the "When Pigs Fly" statue. The winning bid was $21,000. In total $40,000 was raised to build a new playground. Some of the statues can still be seen around town. There are two at Hanover High School, one at the Ray school and six have been donated back to HPR and are on display at the RWB Community Center. 

Tenney Park: A Pig and Wolf Legacy

The proceeds from the auction funded the playground at Tenney Park. The playground is the hub of the park that hosts, athletics, camps, birthdays, occasional special event, and of course hours of outdoor play. The Park is located on Thompson Terrace in Hanover and is open to the public.

A Tribute to Marilyn "Willy" Black

Written by Bill Hammond

Along with her many town activities and accomplishments- Ray School kindergarten and art teacher, National Teacher of the Year in 1979, chair of the Hanover Selectboard, member of the Hanover Improvement Society, trombonist for the Upper Valley Community Band, ardent advocate and supporter of Youth-in-Action- Willy was a chainsaw artist. Her whimsical chainsaw carvings included a pine-child hanging upside down from a trapeze swing; the Ray School Bunny; a Where's Waldo character sitting in a front yard (or elsewhere); and perhaps most famously, Pig and Wolf.

Though she had never created a Pig before Bill Hammond asked her for a porcine statue for his wife, Willy created a lovable, welcoming Pig in January 2001. The next year she asked Bill if he wanted another Pig for the sty, but Bill asked her for a Wolf instead so that the two animals could tell stories. During the years that Pig and Wolf cavorted in the Upper Valley, Willy often filled them with wood putty and repainted them to help them last longer. She even carved replacements.

Willy also made the mold for the fiberglass statues of Pig and Wolf that graced the town and then were sold during a celebratory town auction to raise money for the playground structures at Tenney Park in Hanover.

Wherever she was, Willy was a woman who was committed to contributing to her community. In so many places and in so many ways, she did, and Hanover benefited from her dedication to us.