The community gathered to celebrate for William Anthony Chapman. Photo by Brooke Gilmore
On Friday June 26, the community gathered at the bottom of F Street to remember and celebrate William Anthony Chapman, a familiar and beloved Salida figure. Salida residents may have seen him sitting on the caboose at the end of F Street the past several years.
Chapman was born October 1, 1964 and died June 20, 2020. Chapman was an urban traveler whom many Salidians knew and loved. Around 130 people gathered to remember Chapman.
Chapman leaves behind his mother, who resides in California and a son living in Washington D.C. He has hundreds of friends all over the county.
Former pastor of the Presbyterian church, Mike Orrill told Ark Valley Voice “All of us knew a little bit about him, little bits and pieces but none of us knew him completely. We all have known him as an extraordinarily generous man, extraordinarily friendly man, kind man.”
Members of the community set out flowers across the bridge for Chapman. Photo by Brooke Gilmore.
“What was the amazing thing about him is that people saw him as a human being, not as a homeless man. Just a man, beautiful and flawed like any of us.”
Orrill went on to say, “I think the biggest message that is sent with something like this; one of the gentlemen here who was homeless with William said ‘We’re not bad people, don’t judge us’”.
Chaffee County Housing and Health, who Orrill now works with, has recorded stories of Chapman and plans on sharing them with his mother and son.
A beautiful tribute and touching photos. We have many people who are “homeless” by choice or by chance in our city. Others are just passing through, looking for shelter on their journey to where? I admit to having preconceived notions about people like this and initially feeling uncomfortable in their presence. Yet through a few brief encounters with William, both of us seeking coffee and the warmth of Gathering Grounds this winter, I began to see him as a person. Someone who had weathered a lot, with many stories to tell, just like all of us.
He was barely the age of my youngest sister when he passed, after enriching the day to day lives of our community, grounding us with his regular presence. I felt he would be with us for a lot longer and regret his sudden passing. Salida is a special place as evidenced by those who turned out to remember him. The next time I encounter someone who might appear to be in a similar circumstance, I’ll remember William and make an effort to reach out end engage, as he might have wished.