PORTLAND Ore. (KPTV) – The Thompson Elk statue returned to its fountain pedestal on Southwest Main Street on Thursday — marking the end of a years-long fight to restore one of Portland’s most recognizable landmarks.
“I was very emotional today,” Stephen Kafoury said. “I’m representing a group. We call ourselves the Concerned Citizens. We’re a bunch of retired professionals here in Portland working to protect and preserve Portland’s physical treasures.”
The bronze statue was removed in 2020 after protesters lit the elk’s fountain base on fire, causing the stone to crack. It costs $2.2 million to restore it — with the city sourcing granite from the original Vermont quarry and adding modern features, like a recirculating water pump…