SALEM TOWNSHIP, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Pennsylvania's roads have plenty of attractions. One of them happens to be just outside of Berwick, and it caught the eye of 28/22 News Reporter Joe Mason, who tells us more about Kathy's Concrete Ornaments.
If you've ever passed through Berwick, there's a good chance you've driven by and taken a passing glance at towering statues.
Presidents, puppets, dogs, deer, bears, and Bigfoot, lots and lots of Bigfoot, but they're not just here for show.
Kathy Rinehimer and her husband, Tom, are in the business of selling large concrete ornaments. They've been doing it for around 40 years now.
"Every day it's different, from forty years ago to today," Kathy said.
More than 3,000 of these statues sit and watch the cars go by. The ornaments are all made there. They go through a meticulous process and are usually done in a few days.
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"Well, it's quite a process. When you get up to two tons and so on, everything you pour is poured upside down, and then after you pour it, you have to right it. And the righting of whatever you're pouring is a real job because you have to hook straps, and it usually takes two forklifts to do it," Tom explained.
Tom usually takes on the larger projects. Some weigh a few pounds, others weigh a few tons. They range in cost from $5 to $2,500.
Tom says he likes most everything he does, except for one thing.
"Most of this stuff is all my favorite things. The only thing I don't like is birdbaths. It's too monotonous, and it's just the same thing," Tom expressed.
Kathy and Tom say they should be retired by now, but love what they are doing and will keep the business going for a little while longer.
The business is truly a family affair. The couple's daughter also works there and paints the ornaments.
