Ann Arbor woman's 'Little Man' finds his way back to his Beakes Street home
On Nov. 12, the “Little Man” statue belonging to Johnnie Mae Seeley disappeared from her front yard, leaving the 95-year-old Ann Arbor resident heartbroken.
The statue had brought joy to children and reminded Seeley of her deceased husband Howard, who had loved it.
Five months later, the statue of the crossing guard is back in Seeley’s possession.
Ann Arbor police officers received a tip Thursday evening that the “Little Man” had been seen in the backyard of a home in the 500 block of Elm Street, Ann Arbor police Lt. Renee Bush said. The officers returned the statue of the smiling crossing guard to Seeley, who was overcome with both relief and joy.
Johnnie Mae Seeley poses with the 'Little Man' statue, returned to her Thursday evening after a five-month disappearance.
Courtesy of Ann Arbor police
“It means a lot to me. It meant so much to my husband and he’s gone now,” she said Friday morning. “It was just a sentimental piece that he had. He loved to see the children, when they’d go down to the park, stop and play with the ‘Little Man,’ he just loved that.”
Howard Seeley had found the ‘Little Man’ years ago and the crossing guard had stood watch in the Seeleys’ yard for years. It had gone missing once before, for about a year, and was returned, giving Seeley a sense of hope he’d come back again.
Seeley said she struggles to walk now, but when the officers brought the statue back Thursday evening, she made it down the stairs with her cane and was all too happy to accept him back into the yard.
Howard Seeley had been a junk collector during his life, one of many hobbies, Seeley said. After his death a few years ago, she cleared many of his pieces out of the yard of their Beakes Street home, but the ‘Little Man’ remained as a tribute to him.
Neighbors called the "Little Man" a fixture of the neighborhood and implored the person who took it in November to return the statue. Some speculated it had been stolen because it held value both as an antique sign and also as scrap metal.
Bush said the people who lived at the home on Elm Street said they didn’t know how the statue got there. There was no word on charges being pressed against the residents there as of Friday morning.
Seeley didn’t seem to be too worried about pressing criminal charges on Friday morning as she was still basking in the glow of the return of the ‘Little Man.’
“I was upset, but I’m very happy about it now,” she said.
Kyle Feldscher covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.
Comments
gdog
Wed, Apr 18, 2012 : 12:43 p.m.
looking forward to seeing him soon when i return to Ann Arbor and visit Mrs. Seeley.
mr_annarbor
Sat, Apr 14, 2012 : 3:31 a.m.
I walk by there frequently, and always enjoyed seeing the little man. I'm also very glad that he's back in place.
BHarding
Sat, Apr 14, 2012 : 2:05 a.m.
Love this photo with Mrs. Seeley and her old friend!!
Wystan Stevens
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 10:17 p.m.
Mike Logghe's history of the Ann Arbor Police Department, which came out in book form several years ago, and is now online, contains some pertinent paragraphs: "In May of 1947, the department issued a plea for the return of one of their quietest, but most important officers. This was a life sized metal sentinel that was placed in the street to guard school children that were crossing. Someone had stolen this sign from its post on Packard St. "This metal sign was of an officer holding up a 'SLOW SCHOOL ZONE' sign. Captain [Rolland] Gainsley stated he wanted the sign returned to active duty because of the great influence it had in cutting down accidents near the school. This sign was distributed by Coca-Cola and one like it in good condition today is worth over $1000. "Maybe you have seen a sign like this and don't even realize it. On the corner of Beakes and Fourth Ave. sits this very sign. It has been painted green but this paint has faded over the years and you can see the original paint. The owner of this particular sign was employed by the school system in the 1950's and was given it as it was not being used and was found in a storage room. He stated he has had many people try to buy it over the years but has refused their offers. His sign was also stolen once and found on Miller near Seventh St."
Wystan Stevens
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 10:09 p.m.
Jeff Lamb's 2007 Flickr photo of the late Mr. Seeley with "Mr. Slow": http://www.flickr.com/photos/leylabunny/1694314872/
Jack
Sat, Apr 14, 2012 : 2:41 a.m.
Great picture. Thanks.
Carolyn
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 9:39 p.m.
Yay!!! I am soooo happy to read that this has been returned. Glad that someone did the right thing. : )
thinker
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 7:16 p.m.
Probably students who are returning it as end-of-year approaches, and have to clear out their dorm rooms. :)
jns131
Sat, Apr 14, 2012 : 2:43 p.m.
I could not agree more. Hope the police find charges on elm street.
whoamyou
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 7:15 p.m.
I used to deliver newspapers in neighborhood in the 80's and remember the tin man. Glad he's back home!
nemo
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 7:01 p.m.
FYI: http://www.hakes.com/item.asp?Auction=202&ItemNo=95091
nemo
Sat, Apr 14, 2012 : 3:10 a.m.
There were only 200 made originally. Might be useful as a template if someone wants to reproduce the thing.
Homeland Conspiracy
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 7:02 p.m.
That's a lot of $$$$$$$
SemperFi
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 6:27 p.m.
welcom bak Tin Man. i hope day find yer oil can.
UlyssesWrong1
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 5:27 p.m.
Welcome back home, Little Man
Top Cat
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 5:21 p.m.
I love stories like this.
JayT
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 5:03 p.m.
He keeps leaving, Maybe there is a Little women.
Tex Treeder
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 4:22 p.m.
Glad to see he's been found safe and sound. Looks like he might need a little touch up work. Maybe a result of his recent ordeal.
Ann English
Sat, Apr 14, 2012 : 11:08 p.m.
I was wondering too, if he doesn't look like he did when he was stolen in November. Exposure to the elements can do that.
justcurious
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 4:14 p.m.
Who cares about the misuse of words or whatever, I'm just happy that someone tipped the police off to it's whereabouts and Mrs. Selley has it back. God Bless her and the "tipper" and the police.
Jim
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 4:02 p.m.
Good news. I'm glad the Little Man has successfully concluded his walkabout.
jns131
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 9:44 p.m.
I'd to love to hear about his misadventures thru Ann Arbor.
djacks24
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 3:51 p.m.
"It had gone missing once before, for about a year, and was returned, giving Seeley a sense of hope he'd come back again." Second time this has happened? I see it has a concrete base (which helps a little but apparently not enough), but there has got to be a way to chain that thing down to keep it from being taken? It's too bad that some folks will take anything that's not chained down anymore..
Dog Guy
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 3:46 p.m.
I'll drive by this afternoon to welcome him home.
Ron Granger
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 3:35 p.m.
High Five to the Little Man! I'm very glad this sentimental piece, with so many ties to her husband and past, is back home.