Plans are in the works to honor James A. Sherman, Sr. with something truly befitting a man who spent his life in the newspaper industry – a manure spreader.

Last week, employees from the Oxford Township Parks and Recreation Department removed an antique manure spreader from Sherman’s property along W. Drahner Rd.

The plan, according to Parks/Rec. Director Ron Davis, is to place the old piece of farm equipment outside the department’s new maintenance barn off S. Coats Rd.

“We’ll put a plaque on it,” he said. “I’d envision us putting maybe like a rock garden around it.”

The purpose of this is two-fold.

One, Davis wants to honor Sherman – who served as publisher of The Oxford Leader from 1955-93 and penned the popular column Jim’s Jottings for decades – for everything he did to support and nurture the parks system.

Sherman, 91, chaired the township’s parks committee for nine years.

“He saw the importance of parks,” Davis said.

The other reason Davis wanted to save this rusty relic of rural America is because “it’s a piece of history.”

“Granted, it’s a manure spreader, but it’s still a piece of history,” he said. “I didn’t want to see it wasted. It’s something that you don’t see anymore. Everybody’s just scrapping them. Why not preserve it?”

Manure spreaders are near and dear to Sherman’s heart as he began life in Michigan’s farm country and had a father who dabbled in farming.

Sherman spent years searching for the manure spreader of his dreams.

“I imagine what I’ll do with it,” he wrote in a column. “Maybe paint the sides bright yellow like some of the new pickup trucks, then add racing stripes, and maybe get Castrol to sponsor it. I could be the A.J. Foyt of West Drahner Road, only the racing would be imagined.”

His dream finally came true in 2005.

Per usual, he announced it in his column.

“Yard art does not have to be confined to farm stuff, but I like it best,” Sherman wrote. “Thus, I’ve adopted the most recognizable piece of farm equipment for my yard art. A manure spreader.”

“In planning for this art, I imagined painting it yellow or red, but when I saw its au naturel rusted look, I decided nature knew more about displaying this art than I,” he continued. “So, there it is. If you’re ever driving past 1372 ½ W. Drahner Rd. in Oxford, look and enjoy. It’s art that will bring tears, joy or disgust.”