Via Community News Service, on assignment for the Rutland Herald
RUTLAND – Last Friday afternoon, a crowd gathered on the Trinity Episcopal Church lawn at the corner of West and Church streets in Rutland, waiting to see what lay underneath the white tarp.
The day marked the unveiling of the 13th addition to the Rutland Sculpture Trail, a collaboration of the Carving Studio & Sculpture Center, Vermont Quarries, Green Mountain Power and MKF Properties, in an effort to beautify downtown and honor local history.
Honoring Rutland doctor Charles Caverly, who made significant medical discoveries about polio after an outbreak in Otter Valley in 1894, the life-size white marble statue depicts him sitting thoughtfully with a book.
“Dr. Caverly’s investigation and writing got the attention of the medical world, and, in fact, the American Association of Immunologists noted that his diligence laid the groundwork for substantial understanding of polio,” said Steve Costello, one of the sculpture trail’s organizers.
Costello explained that although Caverly could not find the cause, he made three discoveries through his identification and study of 123 local patients.
“Caverly reached three important conclusions: Polio had the potential to become an epidemic worldwide, most of the victims were children, not infants, so the infantile paralysis title, as it had been used up ’til that time, was a misnomer, and some victims experienced extremely mild forms of the disease with minor symptoms and a quick recovery,” he said.
His efforts, alongside that of fellow doctors, researchers and Rotary International, are to thank for the success of the polio vaccine released decades later.
Costello said a 2020 Rutland Herald article by Dr. Fred Bagley brought Caverly’s accomplishments to the public eye and inspired the project.
“Thanks to Fred, we are here,” said Costello.
Drawing parallels between Caverly and present-day health care workers, the sculpture is dedicated to Rutland Regional Medical Center employees and other regional medical personnel who responded to the initial outbreak of COVID-19.
“We’re incredibly grateful to the physicians and nurses and therapists and pharmacists and all the members of the health care team for all their day-to-day efforts, promoting the health and wellness of our community before, throughout and after the pandemic,” said Dr. Phil Lapp, vice president of Medical Affairs at RRMC.
Though not present, Italian sculptor Alessandro Lombardo discussed the purpose of the sculpture trail in a note read by Costello.
“There is still a great interest in art and its promotion, not only as an aesthetic matter, but also, I would say, as a therapeutic, in the sense of what is good for the soul. Because that’s what it’s all about, nourishing people’s spirits directly through making and teaching art, or indirectly through the viewer’s enjoyment of the work,” said Lombardo via Costello.
Lombardo has worked on numerous sculpture trail projects at the Carving Studio in West Rutland, and thanked them for their support.
“The welcome and support of (retired executive director) Carol Driscoll, her husband, Dave, and the various collaborators who followed one after another over the years always made me feel at home,” he said.
Attendees commented on both the beauty of the statue and the relevance of Dr. Caverly.
“I love the white marble, I think it’s such a great addition to our community,” said Rutland resident Mary Cohen. “Every time I have the opportunity, I will bring anybody out of town to come to the trail.”
Mary Ruth, a parishioner at Trinity Church, emphasized the importance of promoting history for local youth. “His work was very important and we need to memorialize that.”