‘Duke’ joins lineup of Windsor frog sculptures

Published 1:00 pm Sunday, June 9, 2024

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The number of frog sculptures throughout the town of Windsor has grown by one.

“Duke,” named for Windsor High School’s mascot, arrived at the school on June 1.

WHS art students painted Duke in the school’s blue and gold colors.

Windsor’s Economic Development Authority created the frog sculpture program in 2021, which mirrors the placement of pig sculptures throughout Smithfield, 15 miles north of Windsor, to honor Smithfield’s ties to the ham industry and Smithfield Foods. The frogs are a nod to Windsor being known as “Corrowaugh” by Native Americans and “Frog Level” by early residents due to the many small frogs indigenous to the wet, heavy soil in the area, the town’s website states.

Other frog sculptures in place include one named “Jeremiah,” owned by Windsor Congregational Christian Church and visible from Route 460, the four-lane highway that passes through town; one with a Boy Scouts theme at the Wesley F. Garris Event Park on Duke Street, one painted in tribute to farming located on Shirley Drive, also visible from Route 460, and one painted as a joint effort of the Woman’s Club of Windsor and Windsor Rutitan Club, placed at the Ruritan clubhouse on Community Drive.

Each fiberglass sculpture measures 42 inches high, 42 inches wide, 45 inches deep, and weights about 250 pounds. They were made by a company called Cowpainters.