News

BRONZE METAL: The art of James K. Spratt

Kermit Edney

By Bill Moss, Published: September 28, 2016

It's not the most visible of our public art but it may be the best.

James Killian Spratt, who lived and worked for most of his life in Hendersonville, crafted images of historical figures who made a significant mark in arts, letters and the media, mostly in the 20th century. Spratt, a graduate of West Henderson High School, died Saturday at age 66 after a long battle with cancer.

Those on display at the Henderson County public library are James T. Fain, publisher of the Times-News, Kermit Edney, the longtime WHKP broadcaster; Morris Kaplan, a civil rights pioneer, business owner and religious leader; Frank L. FitzSimons, a farmer and historian, who wrote 'From the Banks of the Oklawaha,' and Louise Bailey, a longtime Times-News columnist.

At Fire Station No. 1 stands a memorial to fallen firefighters that includes bronze images of longtime Fire Chief Charlie King and Hendersonville City Councilman T. Lee Osborne, who served as fire commissioner.