Nick Perencevich is a semi-retired physician living in Concord.

I’ve gotten into a habit of traveling by the John Gilbert Winant statue on Park Street, just to the left of the State Library walk up, and saying hello to the former governor. When it gets cold folks sometimes put a scarf or hat on him, but this time it was different: there was a brown scarf in his right hand and it kind of blended in with his bronze complexion making it hard to see, in some ways more appropriate.

Back in the summer of 2017 when the statue was dedicated, Harriet Cross the British Consul General to New England talked about Winant as our then-British ambassador still being remembered in Old England for his generosity and courage during the bombing of London in the 1940s.

J. Brett Grill, the sculptor, also talked at the dedication about his art. He said he created Winant with his hand out giving money or clothing away as he was often known to do as our governor during the Great Depression. The brown scarf in his hand therefore seemed perfect.

The sculptor also said he purposely did not have Winant looking at his hand or the nearby sculpted bench but had his eyes looking up across Park Street to the second floor windows of the governor’s office. He wanted Winant to “keep an eye” on all future governors. Our current governor took office a few months before the dedication. In January, Governor John will now be able to “cast his eyes” on a new governor, Kelly Ayotte.

As stated, I have the habit of saying hello to the statue, but to this date, the statue hasn’t talked back to me. Still like in the 2006 movie Night at the Museum, where the Rough Rider statue of Teddy Roosevelt (played by Robin Williams) came to life, I sometimes have the fantasy of Winant coming to life and telling us of his observations and insights.

If he could talk he would be able to tell us who or what keeps on defacing the commemorative blocks about Donald Trump’s wins in the NH primary. Those blocks showing the winners since the 1950s are just to the right of the State Library walk-up, just feet away from Winant. One Trump block was vandalized and replaced in 2018. He could tell us what dog, with presumed owner in tow, keeps on pooping on the same blocks. He could also give us his insights on outgoing Governor Sununu who he has been staring at for almost 8 years.

I’m not sure what he would say. At one time while governor, the Republican Party looked at Winant as someone who might be able to defeat FDR in his 1936 re-election bid. Kind of like Sununu being looked at a year ago as someone to run against Biden instead of Trump. Winant instead agreed to join FDR as the first director of Social Security and then his ambassador to Great Britain, in essence going principle over party. He wanted to help people and save Britain and his own country. He lost his stature in the Republican Party, but he didn’t care. I think, other than both he and Sununu being young and perceived successful governors in their time, the similarities end.

Article continues after...

Yesterday's Most Read Articles

Two large land parcels in Allenstown and Hooksett to sell at auction on Jan. 16

Merrimack Valley High School student killed following Andover crash into watery ditch

Study says an NH ambulance transport should cost anywhere from $414 to $2,317

Merrimack Valley School District discloses it overspent by $2 million last school year

New Hampshire’s food waste ban going into effect next month promises economic and environmental gains

As residents move into Railyard Apartments, development’s second phase uncertain

Your Daily Puzzles

Cross|Word

Flipart

Typeshift

SpellTower

Really Bad Chess

I think he would be happy to see a new face on the second floor, someone new to stare at. Hoping this new governor would stare back at him and remember that generosity and courage should not be forgotten.

I don’t think he would approve of her campaign theme “Don’t Mass up NH” because he was too respectful of others, people and neighboring states. I think he would be hopeful, now that she had won her election, that she would change her rhetoric.

Also at the statue dedication in 2017, Governor Sununu spoke. It was the first time I had heard our then-new governor speak. It was the first time for the statue to hear him too, that is if the statue could hear and listen. The speech was extemporaneous, long, and entirely about himself and his plans for the future and where he wanted to steer New Hampshire. There was little about Gov. John Winant and why we were there for the dedication. Again, not sure what Governor John might be thinking then, but I wouldn’t be surprised that now after nearly 8 years he’d heard and seen enough.

Next time you travel down Park Street be generous like Governor Winant and put some warm clothes or money in his hand. Someone needy will hopefully benefit. But also look up to his eyes and share his view across Park Street.