Huey Cooper

Location Description

Downtown. On the east side of N. Acline St. just north of its intersection with E. Main St./Hwy 341. Just east of the train tracks.

Bio

For as long as residents could recall, Huey Cooper was a well-known figure in downtown Lake City, as noted in a 1964 article by the Florence Morning News. He lived in a small building behind the Dairy Queen, which was funded and built by the police department, without paying any rent. Huey was known for his cheerful disposition and could often be found sitting on a cement wall at the corner of Acline and Main Streets, offering people the chance to rub his lucky rabbit’s foot for a nickel. He would then use the money to purchase cigars and bottled Coke from the nearby train depot. Huey claimed to have been born in 1873, making him 105 when he passed away in 1978.

Monument Description

The monument to Huey Cooper was commissioned and created by Alex Palkovich. On September 10, 2014, a bronze statue of the larger-than-life Huey was unveiled, depicting him sitting in his familiar spot. The statue shows Huey holding out his lucky rabbit’s foot and has a slot in his right pocket for visitors to leave their nickels.

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