From Trees to Artwork at Kendrick Mansion

A carved wooden clock and a set of wings grace the grounds at Trail End. Below, in Kendrick Park, there is an old man, an ice cream cone and a fish among other carvings.

These are the work of David Peterson, wood carver, also known as the Leftover Tree Artisan.

He talked about how the carvings came about on the lawn of the Kendrick Mansion.

Peterson, a retired history teacher, said he was on the Trail End Guilds Board at the time when the tree trimming was being done, and he was at the time doing wood carving as a hobby. He said they asked him if he could basically re-purpose the old trees so they would not be completely lost.

The first carving was started as a great horned owl, because there are a number of great horned owls in the area. But when he got started on the carving,

He added that when one looks through the space between the two wings, it is roughly the direction of Kendrick’s OW Ranch. The carving is titled, “Wings of Fancy” and was carved in 2019.

Of course, when one is working with organic materials, sometimes things don’t go as planned. Peterson said as a finishing touch he wanted to burn the burrs off, and

He added that as he was putting out the fire, he heard the fire engines below in town, and although it was a different fire, he was afraid that they would turn up at Kendrick Mansion due to his fire.

The other carving on the Kendrick Mansion lawn is the clock. Although the wings are carved from a cottonwood tree, the clock is carved from a different species.

He said he doesn’t like to do the same thing over and over, and he likes to add some hidden meanings and some things that give people pause.

On the clock face the time is set at 4:15. That is the time that Mr. Kendrick died on Nov. 3, 1933. Sharie Shada, Site Superintendent, shared a quote from Mrs. Eula Kendrick’s 11-3-1933 diary, “At 4:15 the light went out, and Mr. Kendrick’s work was done.”

Peterson said that the bench that is attached to the clock provides a place for visitors to sit and enjoy the view and the quiet of the lawns surrounding the mansion. He said that at first the trimmed off tree was taller, so he cut the top off and made the bench. The books that support the bench are symbolic of Mr. Kendrick’s love of learning. Peterson said that as a young rancher, whenever Mr. Kendrick had extra money, he would buy books. His office in the mansion is lined with books.

He has done other wood sculptures around Sheridan, including several in Kendrick Park. He talked about the one across from the amphitheater, which looks like an old man. He said because of the light, in the evening the old man looks like he is sleeping, and in the morning, he looks wide awake.

Peterson said that wood carving is a form of relaxation for him. He said that he starts with a clay model, but that is easier because the pieces of clay can be put back, where sawed off wood can’t be replaced. The carvings begin with a chain saw and then he adds the details with other tools. There are several of his carvings throughout Sheridan for all to enjoy.