Great Scot! Peirce statue is now a Conehead

MIDDLEBORO -- Thomas Sproat Peirce is now wearing a crown, a sign of Scottish royalty, or at least affection.

The “crown ‘’is actually a traffic cone, placed with good humor and friendship by visitors from Scotland.

A contingent from Scotland, who are in the area to support their team in the World Cup, stopped by the Middleboro Library June 19. Before they left they placed a traffic cone on the head of Mr. Peirce, adding a touch of whimsy to a serious depiction of the library’s beloved founder.

The Scottish group has endeared itself to Boston. Thousands of kilt-wearing fans, known as the Tartan Army, made lively visits to Fenway Park where they sang "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles),'' which has become something of a Scottish cultural anthem, played soccer on the Boston Common and of course placed traffic cones on statues.

Placing traffic cones on the heads of statues began in Scotland as a prank and became a tradition.

The tradition originally began in the 1980s when late-night revelers would place orange traffic cones on the head of the equestrian statue of the Duke of Wellington outside the Gallery of Modern Art.

City officials condemned the act as vandalism and repeatedly removed the cone. But as soon as it was removed, locals replaced it.

The public’s love for the cones won out.

The cone is now a protected, globally recognized symbol of Scotland's irreverent culture and sense of humor.

Middleboro has taken to it as well. 

Library staff has a special request: The cone is to stay on Mr. Peirce’s head until the end of the World Cup.

The cone now belongs to the library and photos are welcome. Visitors can “check out’’ the latest head gear  _ and a few books while they are at it.