It has been a week since the removal of Arcata’s statue of William McKinley. For 113 years he glared down on the citizenry from his lofty vantage point at the center of the Arcata Plaza. Now he reclines in the back of a truck parked in the city’s Corp Yard, hand stretched toward the sky above, waiting for what comes next. 

As we know, the Bill’s new home will be somewhere in Canton, Ohio — Arcata City Manager Karen Diemer says Canton’s mayor “kind of listed out five or six” possible locations being considered statue placement. Arrangements for the cross country transport have not yet been finalized. There is talk that Bill will be sent somewhere for restoration work, possibly Los Angeles, before heading to his new digs. 

Diemer says they are waiting for Canton city officials to sign off on Arcata’s latest edit to a brief, roughly two-page document outlining the terms for Bill’s transfer. Canton will ultimately be responsible for pickup in Arcata. 

Until then Bill waits, with a tire for a pillow.