Harvey Manning coined the term Issaquah Alps and founded the Issaquah Alps Trails Club. He also put forward the idea of preserving green space along the I-90 corridor that has become known as the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust. Harvey Manning passed away in 2006 and in 2009 a statue was created to honor his legacy. He would have turned 100 years old this year.
Looking Back: The Harvey Manning Statue Project
Originally drafted by Tom Anderson of the Issaquah Alps Trails Club and published on January 27, 2024
Years of planning and preparation culminated on September 20, 2009, when the Harvey Manning statue was dedicated. The statue is situated next to the popular Rainier Trail at the intersection with Bush Street and within view of the Issaquah Community Center. The dedication program was emceed by Steve Williams, president of the club. Other speakers included Issaquah Mayor Ava Frisinger, City Councilman and former IATC president Dave Kappler, DNR Asset Operations Manager for Tiger Mountain Doug McClelland, IATC Vice Presidents Ken Konigsmark and Doug Simpson, Penelope Manning (Harvey’s daughter), and sculptor Sara Johani. After the ceremony, a reception was held in Gibson Hall, a short walk away. The occasion also served to celebrate the club’s 30th anniversary.
It was a herculean task for a small non-profit organization like the IATC to execute such a project, but the statue committee chairman, Doug Simpson, was up to the task. The fund-raising, artist selection, and coordination with the city, all received his careful attention.
The selection of the artist was a joint effort with the ad hoc committee and the City of Issaquah Arts Commission, represented by Gary Reul. In the end, the task was given to the Lateral Line Studio artists Sara Johani (sculptor) and Tom Jay (foundryman). The work of Tom Jay was known to the city as the artist/foundryman for the salmon sculpture at the Issaquah Fish Hatchery (entitled “Reaching Home”).
Artist Sara Johani went to great lengths to capture the essence of the subject, studying his clothing and even scrutinizing his son’s head (Paul) to refine the likeness. Family and committee members were consulted about how accurate the model’s features were, including the contours of his hat, his glasses and his flannel shirt. Harvey’s wife Betty, daughter Penny and members of the committee were pleased by Johani’s artistic details. The review process included one trip to the Lateral Line studio at Chimacum, near Port Townsend. (Learn more about the artists at www.tomandsara.net .)
The primary inspirational photo for the work was taken by Larry Hanson on a backpacking trip to the Goat Rocks Wilderness in 1984. In it, Harvey is seen seated on some rocks, so acquiring and placing some suitable rocks became part of the project. Fortuitously, the Manning family volunteered some well-suited rocks from the family home on Cougar Mountain (which Harvey liked to refer to as the “200-meter hut”). Artist Johani selected four that aligned with her vision.
Two plaques were made for the piece – one to affix to the rock and another nearby to acknowledge major donors. Deciding upon the words to describe Manning was a challenge, but in the end, “Champion of the Issaquah Alps” won out.
The plaque acknowledging the artists and major donors was placed along the nearby sidewalk (i.e. the Rainier Trail). Most of the donors, corporate and individual, were connected to the Issaquah Alps cause in some way, but the broader conservation causes that were dear to Harvey were also represented, most notably, the North Cascades Conservation Council. His connection to that organization dates back to its founding in 1957, and his voice (sometimes under the pseudonym of the “Irate Birdwatcher”) helped establish the North Cascades National Park. All this, before the “Issaquah Alps” was even conceived.
An oft overlooked aspect of the piece is the inscription of some of the sayings of Manning. Particularly appropriate given his life as a prolific author and wielder of the pen as a weapon of change. On the little notebook in his left hand is “Make your world larger… by going slower.” A slogan also adorning a tee shirt Harvey was sometimes seen wearing.
On the brim of the hat is a longer statement of philosophy: “Wilderness is not the business merely of hikers seeking refuge, but of the entire community of life.”
Read the complete article and see the supporting photos by clicking here.
