In the spring of this year, Reliable Contracting was entrusted with replacing the foundation for the beloved Giant statue at the Anne Arundel County Fair. The Giant, which was originally donated by the Baldwin family and the founders of Reliable, stood previously on a foundation made of railroad ties and heavy lumber in front of the Anne Arundel County Fairgrounds. The base had become unstable over time, so Reliable Contracting got to work building a new stand for the local idol.
A Beloved Icon
The Baldwin family donated the Giant to the Anne Arundel County Fair in 1991, and he has been a fixture in the community ever since. The Giant is such a mainstay at the fairgrounds that his likeness appears as part of the Fair’s logo and in many of their marketing materials. According to a letter of recognition given to Reliable after completion of this project, the Giant “is so well known that when he had his ‘little sleep’ [Anne Arundel County Fair officials] received numerous phone calls and emails telling us that he had been stolen.” Now that he has a new base, the Giant should be able to hold his welcome sign and greet fairgoers for many years to come.
Working While the Giant Slept
Reliable’s crews had quite the project set out for them when they began the undertaking of creating a new base for the Giant. The statue is twenty feet tall and required a crane to lift it off of its base. Once the Giant was gently set down for his “nap” by our plant crew, the team began removing his old base and constructing a new one. Reliable’s concrete crew poured the foundation for the new base, complete with metal reinforcements. The Giant’s new base has a strong concrete foundation, wood retaining walls, scattered natural stone, and two plaques. The first plaque marks the Fair as being on the old site of the farm of Leonard and Nettie Coale, while a new plaque commemorates the Giant base restoration project.
Building and Maintaining Community Ties
The new plaque at the base of the Giant thanks Reliable Contracting and its employees, and it serves not only as recognition for a job well done, but also as a subtle nod to the longstanding partnership between the Anne Arundel County Fair, the Baldwin family, and Reliable Contracting. Reliable has spent the last 90 years working on construction projects in our communities. While not all paving jobs are as eye-catching as the Anne Arundel County Fair Giant, each one serves to tether our company to the community and reinforce our commitment to quality, professionalism, and excellence in every project.
ABOUT RELIABLE CONTRACTING
Reliable is dedicated to delivering quality products, displaying professionalism within the firm, seeking new opportunities for expansion and profitability, and providing an environment for individual success. If you have a commercial or residential construction project that you need taken care of, please contact Anne Arundel County’s largest site-work contractor today by calling 410-987-0313 or visiting our website. You can also follow Reliable Contracting on Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Twitter!
Reliable Contracting Company serves the following and surrounding counties: Annapolis, Queen Anne’s, Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Baltimore City, Calvert, Caroline, Charles, Howard, Prince George, St. Mary’s, Talbot, and Washington D.C.