James Dean birthsite memorial revealed to the public

On Saturday morning, local and international James Dean enthusiasts gathered to celebrate the reveal of a new James Dean Birthsite Memorial in downtown Marion. 

Layla Price-Bodkin, the Supervisor of Marketing & Community Development for the City of Marion, said James Dean is a global legend. Price-Bodkin said that she thinks it is important to recognize Marion as his birthplace. 

 Price-Bodkin said the greatest challenge to making the event happen was the weather. 

 “We’ve dealt with a lot worse weather. We can get through anything: hail, storms, snow, absolutely anything here in Marion,” Price-Bodkin said.

Many people braved the rain, hail and slick sidewalks to attend the event. A small film crew from Toronto, Canada made the trip to document the moment. 

James Dean fan Adam Bretherton grew up watching Dean’s work with his dad. Bretherton said he is hopeful this will help spread [Dean’s] influence in Marion.

 Bretherton encourages younger generations who may be less familiar with Dean’s work to check out his films. 

Indiana State Representative Lori Gross-Reaves shared why Dean’s story matters to her and her family. Her youngest son, Casey, is an actor who played the role of the young Dean at the Community School of the Arts as a boy.

Gross-Reaves said Dean serves as an example to her son of someone who could be born in Marion, raised in Fairmount, and then make it in Hollywood. 

The apartment building Dean was born in was torn down in the 1970s. 

 “A lot of people thought that it was a big mistake to do that.” Price-Bodkin said. 

Under Mayor Morrell’s administration, the city deeded the property, making the memorial possible. 

Gross-Reaves said, “his (James Dean’s) life brings a message of hope that it doesn’t matter where you were born, what class you were born into, that hopes, dreams, talent and determination can take you very far.”