During the process of creating this painting, I have gained a deep appreciation for the history, places, and people of Cottage Grove. It was my goal to capture what makes it such a special place to live.”

Eric Dowdle

The City of Cottage Grove is honored to have Eric Dowdle depict the City of Cottage Grove in his unique style to showcase and celebrate the community.”

Mayor Myron Bailey

People. Places. Things. Put them together, and you’ve got the building blocks for a community.
Unveiled in the cafeteria of Cottage Grove Middle School on Saturday, Sept. 14 at 9:00 a.m., the new Cottage Grove puzzle is now official.
Commissioned by the City to showcase Cottage Grove and enriched with a total of 57 specific references to local people, places, and events both past and present, the puzzle created by Eric Dowdle of Dowdle Studios lets residents dive into Cottage Grove’s, each piece and image holding a lesson to be learned.
Arranged with portrait dimensions, the puzzle is anchored with large depictions of Cedarhurst, the Cottage Grove Ice Arena, and Canadian Pacific Holiday Train all in prominent roles. Topped by a depiction of Cottage Grove’s Strawberry Fest, the puzzle weaves its way through Cottage Grove history, including the Grey Cloud Lime Kiln, Island Bridge, settler James Norris, Hope Glen and Shepard Farms, Langdon School, VFW Red Barn, Boondocks store, and Tom Moy Cafe—just to name a few. Former Bulletin publisher Gary Spooner is also included in the puzzle, as is former mayor Sandy Shiely, the East Cottage Grove Scramblers Snowmobile Club, Strawberry Fest Ambassadors, and Cottage Grove Lions Club.
Current Cottage Grove Mayor Myron Bailey opened the Saturday unveiling with some opening remarks, followed by the National Anthem performed by the Park High School Choir.
“The City of Cottage Grove is honored to have Eric Dowdle depict the City of Cottage Grove in his unique style to showcase and celebrate the community. We are excited for residents and puzzle enthusiasts to enjoy all the big and small details in the painting,” Bailey shared of the puzzle unveiling.
After this the puzzle’s designer took the stage, the design unveiled to confetti and excitement.
“During the process of creating this painting, I have gained a deep appreciation for the history, places, and people of Cottage Grove. It was my goal to capture what makes it such a special place to live,” Dowdle shared of the puzzle making process. Dowdle is the founder of Dowdle Folk Art at dowdlestudios.com and has sold more than 30 million puzzles based on 400 pieces of his artwork. His career as a folk artist spans over three decades.
Following the official unveiling different community members each took the stage to share their won story and piece of the puzzle as it were, each piece serving to help make the puzzle complete. Among them was Holiday Train Committee member Sonya Fox, paying tribute to community inter remarks.
“The Holiday Train is a reminder that even in our busy lives we can come together to celebrate the simple pleasures of life and the spirt of giving,” Fox shared along with fellow Train Committee member Randy Bachman before placing her piece of the puzzle in place, helping complete the grand design.
With many more community members sharing their own stories as well, Dowdle then took the stage to make closing remarks and thank city staff for their help during the process. Mayor Bailey then concluded the unveiling ceremony with brief remarks, followed by puzzle sales, photo opportunities, and a puzzle signing with the puzzle’s creator.
Now revealed to light, the Cottage Grove Community puzzle is available via link on the city website, a 500 piece puzzle priced at $28 and a $1,000 piece puzzle priced at $30.