No matter if you called it bunny, rabbit, bunny rabbit or something else – there is no doubting the marble statue has been a fixture in the children’s section at the Mishawaka-Penn-Harris Public Library for decades.
When renovations finished in 2018, MPHPL Director Donna Meeks recalls that Roland Morin, a longtime serving board member, insisted that the bunny statue return and be part of the new children’s area. “It was important to him that the tradition be continued and we were more than happy to honor his wishes,” said Meeks.
Morin, who passed away in August 2021, had a special attachment to the sculpted piece of marble that dates to his childhood.
Meeks recalls that Morin once shared that as a child, he and many other children would pet the bunny’s nose before entering the children’s department. She said he enjoyed pointing out the worn spot on the nose from 50 years of young visitors.
The sculpture now titled Rabbit has a permanent home that patrons can visit as they make their way toward the entrance of the Youth Services area at the downtown Mishawaka Library. A plaque in Morin’s honor is placed on the wall near the statue that reads: In loving memory of Roland Morin MPHPL Board of Trustee 2008-2021. Below are words from a short passage from Wilson Wished He was a Lion, by K. Evans.
To read more about Roland Morin and his fond memories of Rabbit visit this MPHPL article.