Reprinted from

Thursday, December 2, 1999

Neighbors wince at metal maiden

By Kristi Palma
Eagle-Tribune Writer

HAVERHILL -- The neighbors call her "Iron Maiden" and "The New Lady on the Street." The 10-foot-tall metal sculpture is made entirely of scrap metal from a railroad yard. She stands at the edge of Jerry J. Sheehan's yard, arms outstretched to the world.

Sculptor Jerry J. Sheehan says his creation displayed on his lawn is a piece of artwork. Some neighbors disagree and two teen-agers called it "disgusting."

But the neighbors are not welcoming her.

John and Denise Rowley, neighbors of the maiden's owner, are outraged. They live two doors down at 47 [REMOVED FOR WEB] Ave.

"I find it very offensive," Mrs. Rowley, 45, said.

The neighbors believe the sculpture, which looks like a half-naked woman, is offensive and damaging to the young children in the neighborhood, she said.

But Mr. Sheehan, 37 [REMOVED FOR WEB] Ave., expressed surprise when he heard his neighbors opposed the sculpture.

"I like my neighbors and don't want to offend any of my neighbors," Mr. Sheehan said.

The maiden is actually a dancer, he said. She is not naked, but wearing a costume. The two pieces of metal representing her breasts are the top of her outfit, not her bare breasts, he said.

The Rowleys have two teen-age children who call the statue "disgusting," Mrs. Rowley said. Soon after it was erected, she called the police and the city building inspector to see what could be done, she said.

"The building inspector said it's art and he (Mr. Sheehan) can do it," Mrs. Rowley said.

Edward and Mary Hartmann live five doors down from Mr. Sheehan and his metal lawn ornaments.

"He's never bothered us, he's a nice guy, we're friends with him," said Mrs. Hartmann about Mr. Sheehan, "It's just inappropriate."

Mr. Sheehan, 52, is an environmentalist with the Department of Environmental Protection in Lawrence. Sculpting is his hobby, he said. He has been doing it for about six years and constructed a tree a few years ago, which stands a few feet away from the dancer. The tree is lit up all year long with Christmas lights. He also made another woman sculpture which stands on the side of his house, he said. He said it is ironic that neighbors find it offensive because he intended it to be a compliment toward women.

"I was thinking about how powerful and strong women are,'' Mr. Sheehan said. "I thought I was making a sculpture that demonstrated that. I thought it was kind of a positive statement about the female sex."

If his neighbors want him to move it, he will, he said. But no one has approached him about it.

However, the neighborhood has been buzzing about the sculpture since it was erected about a month ago.

[REMOVED FOR WEB] Avenue, a dead-end street in the Bradford section of Haverhill, is a pleasant place to live and neighbors are all friends, Mrs. Hartmann said.

Though the Hartmanns and the Rowleys applauded Mr. Sheehan's creative efforts and say he is a nice man, they say they want the "eyesore."

Other neighbors expressed distaste over the sculpture to The Eagle-Tribune, but wished to remain anonymous.

"There are a lot of young children on the street -- especially young boys," said Mrs. Rowley.

Patterson R. Rogers, 17, lives at 14 [REMOVED FOR WEB] Ave. Her house is on the opposite side of the street from the Sheehans and she can see both the woman and the tree sculptures from her driveway.

"I personally think the sculptures are really neat. I don't find it offensive, but I can see how other people do," said Patterson, the daughter of D. Cameron and MaryEllen Rogers.

"I don't think it's offensive at all. I put it in the front yard because I thought it was a neat-looking sculpture," Mr. Sheehan said.

Mr. Sheehan's 14-year old son said he thinks it's neat as well, he said, and likes it that his father does something so unique.

This report was prepared by Kristi Palma of the Eagle-Tribune staff. She can be reached by phone at 373-8877; by mail at 181 Merrimack St., Haverhill 01831; or by e-mail at kpalma@eagletribune.com.