Phrogy “jumps” to Broadway
Posted March 24, 2014
Paul Christensen and Phrogy. Photo courtesy of Barbara Hammond, executive director of Hough Foundation.
Paul Christensen, founder of the Hough Foundation and President of Realvest Corporation, acquired a wooden frog in Carmel, CA in 1981 while he and his wife Loti were celebrating their 25th anniversary. The frog was cut from a block of redwood with a whimsical appearance.
Christensen brought the frog to Vancouver and had him installed on the corner of Main St. and 11th where he sat for 33 years. In 1982, Hough School students had a contest to name the frog and with 300 entries submitted; the name Phrogy was chosen.
Last week, Christensen was honored for his 80th birthday with a party at Realvest Corporation offices in the Broadway Building at 205 E. 11th St. Following the festivities, he was asked to come outside where Realvest Corporation management had given Phrogy a complete make-over and restoration. Now, here he sits looking no older than 18 years of age on this corner of Broadway and 11th St. The Daily Insider would like to thank Barbara Hammond, executive director of Hough Foundation, for the story.