The Fresno Flea

"For over 100 years, amateur and professional historians have strived to identify the statue that came to be known as 'The boy with the leaking boot.' The statue stands 4 feet and seems to be nine or 10 years of age. Depending on the manufacturer, the statue was cast in lead, pewter, zinc, bronze, pot metal or spelter, a white metal common in German foundries. By the end of the 19th century, copies of the statue were a common sight in cities where officials looked for ways to beautify the recreational areas, such as parks and promenades. Many of the statues appeared as centerpieces of ornate fountains, while a few were privately-owned and usually placed in backyard gardens... By the 1920s, the statue became the center of attraction for celebrated events in all communities where he stood. In one Ohio city the statue was even listed in the National Register of historic places... In this book, I'll tell how [the] statues suffered impassioned damage by vandals, and yet, in many cases, managed to survive"--