Town-Naming Poker Game in Bronze

Fenton, Michigan

Unveiled on October 5, 2017, "The Game" depicts an August 24, 1837, poker game between William Fenton, Robert LeRoy, and Benjamin Rockwell to decide who would name the town. Fenton won, and named it after himself.

Made of 125 separate pieces of bronze, The Game took two years to complete. Phil Hagerman, who paid for $150,000 the sculpture, insisted that it have an empty chair so that visitors could sit in on the card game.

According to the sculpture's plaque, "the three men continued to play to name the main streets," such as LeRoy Street, which passes in front of the sculpture. Ukrainian sculptor Oleg Kedria couldn't find any likenesses of Benjamin Rockwell, so he used his own face.