• Tuesday-What'sUP September 10 - 07:32 am

If you've traveled M-26 from Ripley to Lake Linden, you've more than likely noticed this giant fellow and his "larger than life" wheelbarrow. He stands just outside of Tamarack City, greeting everyone who passes his way, including Robert C. Wetton who snapped today's shot. J.E. Hendrickson Excavating sure came up with a clever way to catch everyone's eye and let them know what he offers in the line of excavating and trucking. In case you can't tell, the wheelbarrow tub is a dump truck box and the shovel is actually a bucket from a loader of some sort.

I've included a couple photos from Ryan Wainio's Gallery Album, so you can get a better handle on how big this display really is. Ryan's first photo is a Terex excavator (no, it's not a dinosaur, although it resembles one!) and the second picture is a loader. So when you're looking at those two photos, imagine the size of that shovel head in RCW's photo, not to mention a full size dump truck box sitting there too. Now that's some Yooper size advertising!

I believe that little fellow was there when we were there in August. Cute!!

With the major floods we had this summer, equipment used to pull trains, railcars, boathouses, and railroad bridge parts out of the Cedar River would miniaturize these.

I laugh every time I see that sculpture on my way through. Taylor loves it.

Yooper innovation. Hendrickson's sculture beats even the Yoopers outside of Ishpeming!

there is nothing like UP humor!

I saw that BIG wheelbarrow in the 4th of July parade in Lake Linden and then just outside of Tamarack when our visit back "home" came to an end. (sighs)

We had 2 like the Terex here when they paved our road a few years ago. They were "Komatsu's" and painted yellow. Powerful noisy machines!

My uncle warned us of the road construction up that way when we were there so we took different route(s) and therefore didn't get to stop in and say hi to Mary. Did drive right by RC Wettons place and toot the horn but he was in Bootjack!
Next Time! (unless it takes me another 20 years to get there, by then I won't be around! Unless I fly by on my way over the horizon!)

kinda reminds me of LAKENLAND between Marquette and Munising ... anyone know whats up with that place? Who did it? why ?/

My son Eric is a Tech 3 for Stowers Cat here in Knoxville. So I have sat, climbed up into some Huge Caterpillar machines where he works. You know what a Finn calls a wheelbarrow ? They don't call it they push it. That big one has to be towed however.

UGH..........are we sick of the road fixins or what........

If you don't know Mr Hendrickson let me tell you he is one of a kind!!! One of his workers mentioned that he has never heard Mr H swear. He has a great family, his grandchildren are sweet and his wife Joyce is just as nice as he is.

Thank you Hendrickson's for that wonderful float by the road......will it have Christmas lights.....????

God Bless everyone...sweet dreams......

the GIANT wheelbarrow/man is my dads creation! I'll tell you his HEART is BIGGER than his creation! I thank GOD for my dad each day. I have to thank GOD even more today, one month ago he was near his wheelbarrow/man,when he fell into a 12ft. hole!! yes, a 12ft. hole! He fell both feet 1st, hurting his arm on the way down. My dad hollered for help, but realized nobody would hear him. He was standing in 8in. of water when he said"now how am I gonna climb out of this hole?" throwing his cap out of the hole, my dad thought someone would find it and then find him. He then got on his knees to feel for a possible way out. there were 2 culverts, one looked black and one looked like a speck of daylight. I can tell you, when my dad got on his knees in that hole, I KNOW HE CALLED OUT TO OUR LOVING GOD! He managed to crawl thru this culvert. The crawl was under m-26 to the other side of the road behind the chainlink fence. My dad then walked to an opening in the fence to get out. At this time it was dark, he managed to get in his truck and drive to the emergency room to get checked. thankfully, no broken bones and walked away. thank GOD for each day- that's yooper advertising!!!!!! lorna hendrickson