The legend lives: Milly placed at home at the Austin Public Library – Austin Daily Herald

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A crew from Austin Utilities lifts Milly the Mill Pond Monster into place at her new home behind the Austin Public Library early Monday morning. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com

Milly comes complete with a little reading material wrapped within her tail. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com

Austin High School student Ryan Faulkner watches as Milly is further secured into place Monday morning behind the Austin Public Library. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com

The legend of Mill Pond is officially at home.

On Monday morning, a crew from Austin Utilities hoisted Milly the Mill Pond Monster into her spot overlooking Mill Pond’s south shore behind the Austin Public Library. Situated on two metal posts, Milly will be a centerpiece attraction for the Austin Public Library moving forward.

“She looks smaller than she did in the room, but it’s amazing,” Industrial Arts Teacher Ryan Stanley said. “It’s nice to see it and I’m hoping the community really enjoys it.”

Milly herself has been in the process for nearly a year, with Stanley saying that the design work came about in November with fabrication starting in February.

Throughout the end of last school year and into the summer, a dedicated group of students worked alongside Stanley by coming in during the summer and on weekends.

“I was a junior when I started working on it,” said senior Ryan Faulkner, who has been working on it since he was a junior. “It was really fun to work on it. I tried to get as much time as I could on it. I came in on my weekends as much as I could. She was really fun to work on and it’s really interesting to see more architecture being added into the community.”

That was important for Stanley and he believes that for the students it’s important to create the bridge between the students and community.

At the same time, it was a chance for students to gain volunteer hours for the Austin Assurance Program as well as the scarlett cord at the time of graduation.

“I really think it makes a nice connection to their community and students,” he said. “I just really think giving back to their community is very, very important.”

Faulkner also added how nice it was to give back to the community.

“I’ve had Stanley every single year at the school,” he said. “It’s just really fun and interesting to see and it’s so important to be a part of the community and provide some sort of positive change.”

At the same time, Faulkner said it has helped with a possible decision as to furthering his education.

“I was thinking about going into the industrial maintenance program at Riverland,” he said. “I have all the requirements for the two-year scholarship.”

While Milly brings with her a promise of programming and opportunity for the library in the future, it also was a moment of personal satisfaction for those behind her creation and bringing her to life at her new home.

As for himself, Stanley said he found the work of Milly personally satisfying.

“It’s really exciting,” he said. “I love doing metal sculpture. I love doing art. Welding and fabrication is my passion.”