SCAPPOOSE, Ore. — For nearly five decades it's been a landmark in the town of Scappoose: A 50-foot tall candle once covered in actual wax.
It's called the Peace Candle of the World. It has a long history but its future had been in question. The property on which the candle sits had been sold.
Mark Madden, owner of WDC properties which owns the property, told KGW on Thursday that the candle will stay, and an 80-unit apartment will be built to allow the fake wax tower and flame to remain visible from the street.
Scappoose's city manager said he had been working with the developer on a plan to save the Peace Candle.
"One of the options is that the city would gain ownership of easement of the candle and maintain it into the future so it's not a liability for the property owner," city manager Michael Sykes said.
There is no question the giant Peace Candle, which greets folks heading into town on Highway 30, is a landmark in Scappoose.
In fact, KGW was there back in 1971 when then-Governor Tom McCall dedicated the candle. He helped light a real flame on top of it.
KGW archive video: 1971 Lighting of the Scappoose Peace Candle
At the time, the iconic candle was covered in real wax.
At one point a few months later, hundred-degree-plus weather threatened the future of the candle until a sprinkler system was installed on top of it to cool it down.
KGW archive video: 1971 Peace Candle melting worries
Since that time, the real wax has been replaced with imitation wax, the real flame with an electric flame. But the structure has remained.
"I would hope they would build the apartment building around it and and just leave it be," longtime Scappoose resident Brandy Shult said.
One community member had already started an online petition to save the Peace Candle. It has gotten more than 3,000 signatures from people hoping the icon will be preserved.
"I think it just gives hope for the world," said Stacy Peterson, who often drives by the candle. "That's what I always noticed when i passed by on the road. It's a good message for the world."