James J. Hill

The old statue of James J. Hill once towered over Central's front lawn. Now it sits in a railway station parking lot looking out over North 28th Street.

James Hill, referred to as the "Empire Builder," founded the Great Northern Railway. According to the text "Central A to Z," when Hill died in 1916, a movement was started to erect a monument in his honor. The Public Affairs and Great Northern Railway Committee raised funds and donations for the memorial and in May of 1926, a five-foot high bust of Hill, placed on a 13-foot granite base, was placed on the lawn at Central.

The statue remained there for 78 years until the Burlington Santa Fe rail yard removed it in 2003 despite public outcry. People who are familiar with the statue will point out a missing piece. The granite base originally had a bronze plaque on each of its four sides. The plaque on the front of the base, which displayed a railcar, is no longer there. It was removed when the statue was relocated. Graduates of Central like Marlene Case say it’s a disgrace that somebody would remove the plaque to sell or put on their mantle.

But just like the school, the plaque is gone. But the statue of James Hill still stares out over Superior.