The historic York Agricultural Institute building in Jamestown, Tenn., is depicted in a limited-edition pewter ornament created exclusively for sale by the Sgt. York Patriotic Foundation.

The ornaments will be available as long as supplies last at the York General Store in Pall Mall, at Sgt. York Day on Oct. 17, online at www.sgtyor.org, from foundation board members and at various businesses in Jamestown, according to Darlene Davis, chairman of SYPF’s fundraising committee.

“We hope the ornament will spark memories in former students who have a soft spot in their hearts for the old school,” Davis said.

Davis said that all proceeds from sale of the $15 work of art go directly into the YAI restoration.

These funds will help the Foundation in meeting its goals to match a $500,000 dollar-for-dollar grant from the State of Tennessee earmarked exclusively for remediation and stabilization of the 1920s era building.

“This portion of construction is near completion,” Davis explained, adding that the SYPF is continuing aggressively to raise funding.

“We do not just want to preserve the building; we want to work with York Institute to revitalize it into a viable space for expansion of the York Institute complex.”

To create the ornament Davis tapped the talents of artist Ben Cordsen, owner of Colorado-based Cordsen Design Studio, who created a similar ornament depicting the clock tower of the Fentress County Courthouse.

“Alvin York's lasting legacy for Tennessee was previously unknown to me,” Cordsen said.

“Through the research of subjects for sculpture I have gained a better understanding of people, events and circumstances beyond my own experience. Sgt York was certainly a figure to emulate.”

Cordsen said that several photographs of the present building as well as older ones showing the original configuration and layout were sent to him by Davis.

“The best loved and remembered scene was the main building with both wings viewed through the stand of trees behind the York Institute letters on the low berm towards to the road,” Cordsen observed from his research, and Davis agreed.

“After a lengthy discussion with Ben and other board members of the Foundation about whether to include the trees, it was decided to do so,” Davis said. “For the hundreds of students that attended school in the old building and the community, this has consistently been the view from the road of the letters, trees and building.”

With the design approved, Cordsen created the model, hand carved in sculpting wax.

“Once I was satisfied with the look, a mold was created from casting rubber and the first pewter ornaments were poured from this mold,” Cordsen said.

“Production in quantity was done in a second mold using spin cast techniques for high detail.”

Cordsen has been a full-time sculptor since the early 1970s and has cast pewter in his own foundry more than 25 years.

“The metal I used for the keepsake ornament is fine, lead free pewter that is easy to work, very durable and gives a soft antique finish when completed,” Cordsen said. “The casting temperature is 600°.”

Each ornament is hand finished in the Cordsen family studio, buffed and lacquer sealed with a hanging ribbon for display. In addition, the York Institute keepsake has been designed to stand on a shelf or tabletop without the ribbon.

“I hope the ornament depicting the York Institute will be a successful fund raiser bringing many people together in remembering the Institute and the place it has had in the community,” the artist said.

“I am excited to provide the keepsake ornament for the York Institute and do my small part helping raise funds for the restoration and rededication of the York Institute building.”

For more information about the Foundation’s efforts or to purchase the ornament online visit www.sgtyork.org or call 1-888-WW1-Hero.