Leif Erickson simply did not want to move after 45 years at Shilshole Bay Marina, causing anguish to workmen who struggled five days, encountering unexpected brass rods and the statue's legs full of concrete.

It was finally removed Saturday and has been trucked off to be shined up for its next location at a new park a few hundred feet away.

The statue stubbornly remained on its perch as crews from the Artech used drills, roto-hammers, hydralic jacks, electrical jack hammers and a huge crane in an attempt to take it down.

Finally on Friday afternoon, crews made progress with only a few pieces of rebar left to saw through. Media representatives were informed and word of mouth spread through cell phone calls as people began to gather.

Bystanders waited with anticipation, curious at the failure of skilled workmen to take down a huge statue. When the crane finally separated the statue from its base and it rose into the air, people cheered.

The statue will be moved to a Scandinavian plaza 200 feet north of its present location at the Shilshole Marina, now undergoing extensive renovation.

Erikson was born in Iceland to a Norwegian father Eric the Red and an Icelandic mother. Around the year 1000, Erikson was the first recorded European to set foot on American shores.

The statue removal job was expected to take a couple of hours on Tuesday last week. An informal noon ceremony was attended by members of the Leif Erikson International Foundation, Ballard residents and the media.

Six steel bolts held the statue to its base. When they were removed, the statue didn't budge an inch. Crews encountered 3,000 pounds of concrete poured into the base through a hole in the right leg of the statue.

"It was by far the hardest and most complicated de-installation. We were jack hammering concrete and steel with limited access," said Project Manager Roger Waterhouse of Arttech, a local company specializing in handling artwork and antiques.

The bronze statue's base resisted the force of cutting equipment and a crane exerting 10,000 pounds or more of upward pressure.

By last Thursday morning, the four-ton, 16-foot-tall statue was still standing. The news went national and international as Scandinavian news media, along with the New York Times and Los Angeles Times called for updates, according to Kristine Leander, a board member of the Leif Erikson International Foundation.

"It surprised me how strong it is. Between the concrete and the re-bar, it's just tough," said Waterhouse whose hands, hair and clothing were caked with concrete dust when he took a break on Thursday.

The Artech crew worked slowly, taking its time so they would not damage the statue.

As crews drilled under the statue's base, they kept running into more concrete, and a maze of re-bar and 1.25 inch or larger bronze rods.

On last Friday, Gladys Nakkerud Sherlock arrived to watch. Her late father Trygve Nakkerud, the president of the Leif Erikson League in 1962 was instrumental in raising funds, building and erecting the statue. His name is inscribed on statue's plaque.

Sherlock said her father did not want the statue to fall on anyone and felt it needed extra reinforcement to anchor it.

"He believed in building something tough. He was Norwegian. He was tenacious, determined and focused," said Sherlock, who had fun seeing how hard it was for crews to remove Leif Erikson.

"It's a tough one, you betcha. He's a tough Icelander," said Trygve Bjorndal, who brought his accordion along to entertain the crowd.

"Things in Scandinavia are built to last. Discovering how well he has been installed brings up a lot of ethnic pride. Our forbearers did such a good job putting him in that he is not about to topple over, that's for sure," said Leander.

Jay Haavik, the artist who is designing the new plaza wanted to keep the head stone on the statue bearing Leif Erikson's name intact. Unfortunately, the crew had to drill into it.

The project left the Artech with numerous broken drill bits. Others had worn down beyond use. Trips were made to the hardware store to buy more parts and gasoline for generators.

With freezing temperatures and a light snowfall by Thursday, Leander at that point had spent three straight days at the marina handling media interviews and referring reporters to Scandinavian seniors with stories to tell.

"It's cold but it has actually been a lot of fun. The community has come out to support us, telling stories," said Leander.

Anne Marie Steiner attended the first day of the drawn out event and waited patiently for the statue to come down.

Steiner watched the statue being installed in 1962. "It has been a wonderful place for people to take pictures with relatives from Norway," Steiner said.

Gary Ramstad, the coordinator of the Puget Sound Chapter Volvo Sports America came to see the statue. It proved to be as well constructed as the Swedish automobile known for its durability.

Ramstad's grandmother Emma Monson donated $50 to build the statue. She was 61 years old at the time and lived in the Norse Home. Ramstad is donating money to have his grandfather John Nelson Ramstad's name placed on a stone. The elder Ramstad came to the U.S. at the age of 15 in 1887.

The Leif Erikson statue was first put on display at the 1962 Seattle World's Fair. That was where Rolf Lystad first saw it. Later, it was moved to the Shilshole Marina.

Lystad is a member of the Leif Erikson International Foundation. "A lot of people knew of him (Leif Erikson) here. He is part of Ballard and Scandinavian heritage," Lystad said.

Peter Jackson, son of the late Washington State Senator Henry "Scoop" Jackson came to watch the statue being taken down on the first day. Jackson said his father was very proud of his Norwegian heritage.

Jackson is putting the names of his grandfather Pieter Grosseth and grandmother Marine Anderson on the stones.

Weathered by years on the waterfront, the bronze sculpture has oxidized and rusted in places with some cracks at the base. The statue was originally brown, now it's green.

Artech will transport the statue on a flatbed truck to its workshop for some much needed maintenance and expert care.

"Conservators will take a look at it and make an assessment," said Artist Jay Haavik, who has been selected to design the new plaza. His grandfather Olai Haavik was a well known pastor in Ballard for many years.

When the Leif Erikson statue is re-installed in it's new location, it will sit on a lower, six foot granite base so it can be viewed easier.

Meanwhile the Ballard based Leif Erikson International Foundation is raising funds for the project by selling the rights to have the names of Scandinavian immigrants etched in the new plaza's 13 basalt stones that features rune stones.

The names on the stones will represent people who emigated to the U.S. from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden.

Five hundred names have been pledged at a cost of $125 each so far. The Leif Erikson International Foundation's goal is to add 1300 names.

"We need more names. We have plenty of space for families to honor their family heritage," said Leander.

The new Leif Erikson Plaza will be dedicated on Sunday, Oct. 7 to coincide with the Oct. 9th Leif Erikson Day.

"We've all been real proud of Leif Erikson," said Leander.

Any Scandinavian descendents or immigrants who wish to have their family names added to the plaques can send $125 for each name to: Leif Erikson International Foundation, 2245 N.W. 57th St., Seattle, WA 98107. More information is available at http://www.leiferikson.org or call 778-1081.

Dean Wong may be reached at 7831244 or dino@robinsonnews.com