2010: The Fremont Troll
“Who’s that tripping over my bridge?” The Troll roared, as the young Billy Goat Gruff trip-trapped across…
Growing up, my father would play the role of the Troll every time my brother and I crossed an old rickety bridge on a hiking adventure. We, along with children all over the world, heard the folktale and often wondered with excitement what really lurked beneath the shadows of the bridges we crossed.
In 1989, the shadows underneath the Aurora Avenue Bridge in Seattle desperately needed some rehabilitation. The Fremont Arts Council received a grant from Seattle Department of Neighborhoods to hold a competition aimed at livening up the space under the Aurora Bridge. Entries were submitted, and the top three designs selected by the jury received $500 each to construct their models for the public vote. The Troll idea, designed by Steve Badanes, Will Martin, Ross Whitehead, and Donna Walter was not among the finalists, but the Arts Council invited them to submit a model as a 4th concept for the public vote. At the Fremont Fair, the Troll design was the overwhelming favorite, winning the competition.
The eighteen-foot Troll took about three months to build, aided by community volunteers. Rebar steel and wire create the exterior shell, covered by two tons of ferrocement, a mixture of cement, sand and water. A reclaimed Volkwagen Bug was incorporated, showing the scale of the giant. A time capsule was buried in the car, filled with visions of the future drawn by Seattle schoolchildren. With his shiny hubcap for an eye, and as cars go trip-trapping above, the Troll continues to keep watch over the Emerald City.
The Troll remains a vibrant and permanent fixture of the Fremont neighborhood, and a beloved icon for Seattle. The local community continues restoration efforts to beautify the area, visitors often stop for a photo op and events like Trolloween each October keep the Troll a very busy creature. He has even found his way onto the silver screen, with filming fees helping offset the maintenance costs. The artists have copyrighted the design, and we are honored to have permission to use the Troll as this year’s Seattle Ornament.
Storytelling is an important part of our culture and heritage, especially during times of family gatherings and holidays. May this 2010 ornament instill a sense of adventure, wonderment and an inspiration for passing on your own stories and traditions.
Chris Harris, Writer
