Little Brown Bear - Monroe, MI - Bear Statues on Waymarking.com

On Oct. 6, 2002, hundreds turned out to dedicate the 600-pound bronze statue of Little Brown Bear sitting on a log outside Dorsch. Local artist Devon Vergiels donated more than 300 hours to sculpt the statue out of clay in the likeness of the bear and architect John Kohler donated 40 hours to design the site. The initial framework design was done at Monroe County Community College by John Schneeg, Keith Albright, Don Setzler and Mike Mohn. Some passerbys will rub the bear’s nose for good luck.

Aunt Bett is remembered for many things, but is perhaps best known as Monroe’s author of the Little Brown Bear series and many poems and rhymes. Many remember her simply as the woman who thrilled kids with spellbinding stories.

Born Oct. 20, 1904, Aunt Bett was the youngest of nine children born to Albert and Elizabeth ( Wilson) Upham in Flat Rock. Her family moved to Monroe when she was 4. After graduating in 1923, she continued her education at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and became a school teacher, eventually teaching in Rockwood, Farmington, Lincoln Park and Detroit. She married George (Mac) Mc-Webb on Aug. 20, 1940, in Angola, Ind., and moved to South Rockwood where they owned a pharmacy for many years. They settled in Monroe upon his retirement. He died March 14, 1968.


Aunt Bett’s outstanding career of writing stories, poems and limericks began when she was a child. She began writing stories and verses while teaching Sunday school. Her sister, who worked for Highlights Magazine, encouraged her to submit her story about a little brown bear, the bear whose image sits in front of the library at E. First and Washington Sts. Her first book, “Little Brown Bear,” was published in 1942.

“Grandmother’s Locket” is the most recognizable of her books, Krueger said. Aunt Bett’s other books include “The Merry Adventures of Little Brown Bear,” “Little Brown Bear Goes to School,” “Little Brown Bear and Friends,” “Little Brown Monkey,” “Through My Kitchen Window,” “Little Brown Bear Learns To Cook” and “Little Brown Bear Loses His Clothes.” All of the books are available at Dorsch or can be found online at the library system’s website. The books can be made available at any of the system’s 16 branches if requested.

Aunt Bett’s last effort, “Little Brown Bear Builds a Playhouse,” was written in collaboration with Julia Richardson and still benefits Habitat for Humanity.
Despite her literary talent, thousands of children in Monroe knew her best for the stories she told rather than those she read.

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Name of statue: Little Brown Bear Name of creator: Devon Vergiels Material: Bronze Date created: 10/6/2002 Additional Coordinates: Not Listed

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