Serena Bates

On Saturday, June 13, Serena Bates life-size monument to Ellison “Tarzan” Brown (1913-1975) will be dedicated in Westerly, RI.  The memorial celebrates the accomplishments and history of one of the premier American Indigenous marathon runners. Born in Westerly, Brown reportedly is responsible for the title “Heartbreak Hill” of the Boston Marathon as a result of passing the favorite lead runner on the most difficult ascent of the footrace, thereby winning the marathon in 1936.