by Mike Warner 

A group effort has helped save a well-known Litchfield piece of artwork from obscurity.  

The artwork - a diorama de­picting the Alamo entitled “Davy Crockett’s Last Stand - was created by former Litch­field High School art and histo­ry teacher Jim Wildt, who passed away in 2022. The scene is put together inside a wooden box.     

The piece was “lost” for decades until it was recently discovered in one of the school district’s old portable buildings behind the vacant former ele­mentary school. 

The school offered residents a chance to go through the portables and salvage anything of value before they were torn down and removed. One neighbor, who lives across the street, took advantage of the opportu­nity and salvaged the artwork. 

Local businessman Steve Wade saw the piece on the man’s front porch and told fel­low businessman Brian Smith, a former art student of Wildt. 

“I remember Jim making it in 1984. He did a lot of minia­ture sculpting back then that was unbelievable, incredible. 

“Its a great part of Litch­field’s history,” Smith added. “Jim taught forever and was a prominent member of the com­munity. There  is no doubt at all that it is a museum-quality piece of art.” 

Smith inquired about the sculpture and was told he could buy it for $60, which he did piece of art.” 

Smith inquired about the sculpture and was told he could buy it for $60, which he did without hesitation. He displayed it at a former gas station down­town he uses as a gathering place. 

“It started a lot of conversa­tions. I still have other drawings done by Jim. Now, if I could just find the old two-headed cat in a jar that Dave Prybella kept in his science class, I’d be all set,” Smith joked.  

“I intended to keep it, but after a while I thought  I should contact Penny to see if she wanted it,” Smith recalled. 

“When Brian called, I could­n’t believe it. I’m thankful it was found,”  said Penny Jump, Wildt’s sister. “Otherwise it would have been gone forever. I hadn’t seen it in probably 45 years. It’s an exquisite piece of art and is in incredible condition after all these years. 

“I was waiting for Brian to ask me if I wanted it,” Jump added. “Finally, I couldn’t stand it any longer. I asked if he would sell it to me, and he agreed (for the same $60 he paid).” 

Photo by Mike Warner

Photo courtesy of Scott Salow

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