MARSHALLTOWN unveils plaza, tallest trowel sculpture in the world | News, Sports, Jobs

The Trowel Sculpture Plaza with the “Tallest Round-Handled Brick Trowel in the World” was unveiled Friday morning at MARSHALLTOWN Company, drawing more than 100 people outside to view the community’s latest impressive work of art.

Marketing Director Ashley Swanson served as the ceremony emcee and told attendees the sculpture, modeled after the company’s 3311 brick trowel, is 32 feet tall, weighs with the blade at 10 feet wide and weighs 1,800 pounds.

“Just to put that into perspective, that is a small car,” she said. “That is a pretty amazing feat.”

Highlighting the 3311, Swanson said that in the 1990s, MARSHALLTOWN was the first manufacturer to put a soft grip handle on a construction tool, revolutionizing the industry.

“Today, as we dedicate this plaza, we are not only celebrating the space itself, we are also celebrating the collaboration and the people behind it,” she said. “Because at MARSHALLTOWN, our legacy is not built by one person or one moment. It’s built by a team.”

MARSHALLTOWN President and CEO Joe Carter gave the closing words for the unveiling event. He noted that it was a wonderful way to celebrate the company’s 135th birthday and said it was amazing to see so many people show up for the ceremony.

Carter thanked everyone involved for making the sculpture and the plaza, and said it was bigger than he expected it to be.

“These guys made it look easy, but this thing is not easy,” he said. “How do you design this thing? How do you put it all together, but they made it look easy.”

Carter highlighted a 12-minute time-lapsed video QR code on the wall next to the trowel so that residents can watch the sculpture being built.

“It’s kind of funny, people laugh when the handle falls off the support,” he said, drawing laughter from the crowd. “Sorry, Jarod. It wasn’t a funny moment for Jarod [Elsberry] when it fell off the support, but it was funny for me when I watched it.”

The trials and tribulations the team encountered while building the plaza are symbolic of the challenges MARSHALLTOWN employees face on a daily basis.

“We always say manufacturing and selling these tools is just a complicated task, and it’s hard work, but our team is up to the task every single day,” Carter said, asking for a round of applause for current and past employees.

He said that on the back of the plaza, there are graphics people can read, highlighting the history of the company and people who played a role in the 135 years.

Joel Greer, who said it might be his last official public speaking engagement as the mayor of Marshalltown, added that he only needed to remember three words for the unveiling event – “whether,” “trowel” and “city.”

“Whether I’m taking credit for this after the tornado, derecho, Legionnaire’s disease, coronavirus, today’s a nice day and I’d like to take credit for it,” he joked.

Greer added that the plaza has helped beautify the neighborhood. It was events like the unveiling and the inspiration employees get to get involved in the community from business leaders such as Carter that made it fun for Greer to be mayor.

Also speaking at the unveiling were Marshalltown Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO John Hall and Arts + Culture Alliance Executive Director Amber Danielson.

TROWEL SCULPTURE PLAZA INFO:

Location: 104 S. 8th Ave.

Contact Lana Bradstream at 641-753-6611 ext. 210 or lbradstream@timesrepublican.com.