Eudora ? The city marked its 150th birthday Saturday with a monumental gift to itself: a bronze statue depicting the city’s founder, Paschal Fish, and his daughter, Eudora, the city’s namesake.

Some descendants of Fish were in attendance, as was Hannah Garcia-Copp, a Woodlawn School student from Lawrence, who served as the model for Eudora.

The statue, unveiled at CPA Park, was designed by Lawrence sculptor Jim Brothers and capped off a weekend of celebrating Eudora’s sesquicentennial.

The city held nothing back as thousands of people crowded Main Street on Friday and Saturday. The street was lined with merchants, artisans and musicians. Activities ranged from a pie-baking contest to a longest-beard contest, but the focus was on the city’s history.

Matt Daigh, president of the Eudora Lions Club, said Brothers jumped at the opportunity to create a tribute to Fish and Eudora.

“He expressed a very sincere interest in capturing an image to represent our city’s history,” Daigh said.

Brothers said he was taken by the spirit of Fish, a Shawnee who received the land on which Eudora is located from the United States in 1854. Later, a pair of businessmen named Charles Durr and Louis Pfief struck a deal with Fish to purchase most of the land on behalf of German migrants. They held Fish in very high regard, even granting his request that they name the new town after his daughter.

Descendants of Eudora and Durr attending the dedication ceremony were recognized for traveling from as far away as Massachusetts and California.

A two-year fundraising drive led up to the unveiling.

“There are so many players in this game,” said Daigh, who praised Eudorans for purchasing commemorative bricks placed around the bronze statue.

“It’s a big deal,” Daigh said. “Probably more so for a small town.”

Shouts of approval mixed with heavy applause as the statue was uncovered. A watchful Paschal looks across the Plains, holding an oar, a reference to his work as a ferryman. Eudora, barefoot, hugs her father’s midsection – a picture of strength and endurance.

“It’s almost like a living piece of history for us, looking at the past and future,” said Jackie Ayler, a Eudora resident, who attended the celebration with Vicki Bahnmaier.

Bahnmaier said Fish would appreciate Eudorans today.

“He’d probably feel really proud that we feel that way about our city and his daughter,” she said. “We’re proud of our city.”

Mayor Thomas Pyle said the sesquicentennial marks the launching of beautification projects for the downtown area and CPA Park, while preserving the city’s Indian heritage.

“I couldn’t be more proud of being the mayor of Eudora than I am today,” Pyle said.

There was much focus on Fish and his character. Not only was he regarded as honest; he was prophetic.

In a speech to the U.S. House of Representatives noting the city’s milestone, Rep. Dennis Moore said Fish promised that if the town was named Eudora, a tornado would never hit.

So far, he’s been right.