June
10, 2003
Friends of Historic Boonville
614 East Morgan
Boonville, Mo.
ATTENDING:
Harry Weber, Peggy Guest, Joe Guest, Jeff Oberhaus, Joe Geist, Tom Yancey,
Dorothy Whitten, Carolyn Eichelberger, Angie Fountain, Winky Fredrich, Betty
Bowen, Maryellen McVicker, Pat Holmes, Gary Nauman, Ted Bleil and Art Schneider.
Sarah
Kirchoff of The Missourian and Missourian photographer Vanja Ratkovic.
Meeting
came to order at 6 p.m.
Financial
Report:
Maryellen McVicker reported $10,725 collected and $5000 paid toward Walter
Williams bust and pedestal to Sabra Tull Meyer. The Williams donation is a separate gift to recognize the
founder of the M.U. School of Journalism.
Total
funds pledged: $26,900. In bank: $5,725.
She
reported City of Boonville elected and government officials have been strong
advocates for historic funding from the state.
Hannah
Cole Sculpture: Sculptor Harry Weber noted his style is to capture
spirit and movement, not formal American Gothic poses. He stressed that accuracy
in motion and dress are near and dear to his heart.
He
said part of the inspiration for the week came from an Amish community near his
home. He observed the Amish women and the breeze.
Mary
Pat Holmes had arranged to gather from the Missouri Historical Society a large
number of photos with clothing styles and shoes from the period of Boonville’s
founding. Harry Weber had seen most beforehand.
Art
Schneider said he had been unable to secure a sample of clothing made from
nettles, which the historical record reports Cole used to make clothing. He
related that experts suggested the characteristics of flax are quite similar to
those of nettles.
Participants
moved forward discussing statue modifications:
Angie
Fountain suggested that Hannah Cole’s hair should have a central part and be
pulled back. Harry said he could do this.
Maryellen
McVicker suggested that the figure conveyed by the Hannah Cole sculpture should
not be confused with the DAR Madonna of the Trail. She also said that as
pioneers moved west, they were less formal in their clothing.
Several
watercolors of Marie von Puhl, which are at the Missouri Historical Society in
St. Louis, show women wearing simple clothing patterns.
There
also was discussion about whether a rifle or some implement other than a shovel
is used. Harry Weber said the shovel was not designed from an historical relic.
There
also was a discussion on short sleeves. He said he wanted something that was not
ordinary. Sowing seed would not convey this. He had made an earlier maquette
with Hannah sowing seed, but decided to dispose of it because the spirit was not
captured in that design.
Bob
Dyer noted the symbolism of a shovel in “Breaking New Ground.”
Art
Schneider asked if a plow would work. Harry Weber said it would change the focus
from Hannah.
Betty
Bowen said the more that she has looked at the existing maquette; the more she
likes it, and the more movement she sees. She said this is a turnaround for her.
At first she was not excited about the shovel. She said she likes the sleeves
short. Harry said this expanded his opportunity to portray strength, which would
be more difficult if a long sleeve were incorporated into the sculpture.
Consensus
toward titling the sculpture Breaking New Ground as it conveys the hard
work of a pioneer woman. Bob Dyer said that the Merrimac Inn Ag Museum might
have some samples of shovels from the period. Harry said he would check with
them and also the historical society.
Poster—Art
Schneider asked Harry if he would agree to autograph posters of the statue that
could be given to donors or sold. Harry Weber said he would be happy to work
with us on the fundraising.
Discussion
once again returned to Hannah Cole sculpture. Clothing designs from the era
strongly suggest that high-waisted dresses were the vogue. Harry Weber started
to revise the maquette to reflect this. Also, costumes from that era show a
lower neckline and the use of a kerchief around the neck. Harry Weber began some
modifications of the sculpture to suggest the kerchief and lower neckline.
Gary
Nauman noted in the costumes from that era the use of a drawstring. Consensus to
have a drawstring rather than buttons.
Expression
of Cole Face—Winky Friedrich suggested that the expression
convey hopefulness.
Sleeves:
Discussion that it was common at that time for women to wear clothing with long
sleeves that could be removed and short sleeves underneath.
Vandalism--Jeff
Oberhaus brought a concern that the statue is such that it not be easily
vandalized, such as the pen that is frequently removed from the hand of Thomas
Jefferson sculpture at the University of Missouri-Columbia or the instance of
pencil from Jack Buck statue at Busch Stadium in St. Louis.
The
location of the police station just west of the park, the high traffic and
lighting at the park appeared to address this concern.
Landscaping—Jeff
Oberhaus suggested that as an outdoor art gallery, the park should be viewed as
an enclosed room.
Winky
Fredrich had some concern about a single front entrance o the park. She
suggested that the two sidewalk wings east and west from the sculpture should be
extended to the sidewalk.
She
also asked about the condition of the park surface and Gary Nauman said there
were no funds for park stabilization this year and that funds would be sought
for the city fiscal year beginning April 1, 2004. He said the northern half of
the park appears to next extensive subterranean work to prevent leakage into the
adjoining Palace Restaurant.
Lighting---Harry
Weber said the park area is a great sight because of the southern facing
position of the Hannah Cole sculpture and six busts.
As
to nighttime lighting, he suggested lighting in the front of Hannah Cole and to
the sides and bi-directional lights for the busts. These would be eight to nine
feet apart.
Peggy
Guest and Joe Geist also voiced support for that display. The art community did
not see elevated lighting as appropriate for the site.
Landscaping
Continued—Joe
Oberhaus suggested tall plantings be in the area behind the busts. He further
suggested small trees o the rear of the park.
The
plantings, he said, should be interesting.
For
the area on which the Cole sculpture stands, Harry suggested rocks and moss.
Jeff suggested colorful plants in the forefront.
Harry
noted that statues would be monochromatic so the burst of color would add to the
interest in the area.
Jeff
said the brick wall at the back of the park was a “great background.”
“It is not a Martin (Morton?) Building.”
Park
Benches—The
donor for the Walter Williams bust has expressed an interest in donating a park
bench in honor of Roy Williams. Jeff Oberhaus noted that it is important to
create a unified plant that has historical accuracy. He suggested that CCA
treated timbers would be out of place in an historical sculpture garden. He
suggested a classic wooden park bench is a possibility.
Peggy
Guest suggested a bench of rock or one that looks like stone. She agreed to draw
up a design to share with the project members.
There
also was discussion of sidewalks and the materials. Jeff suggested that for historical purposes, a brick walkway
would be preferable to poured concrete.
Harry
Weber said he would reduce his fee by $1000 that he would donate toward
landscaping.
In
backgrounding on landscaping, Jeff said in the1970s people were into railroad
timbers; in the 1980s landscape timbers and beds with rock. Today, he suggested,
precast concrete walls are the railroad ties of yesteryears.
His
preference would be old paving brick.
Maryellen
McVicker said there is a company in Herman—Laser Light UA-- that makes large
etched bricks. She suggested that these might be interspersed among the paving
bricks. It was suggested that an etched name in brick be made available for
$200.
Gary
Nauman said a South St. Louis Shopping center had paving stones with names
etched on every 10th brick.
A
typical paving brick is about 4.25 inches by nine inches. Gary said there are
some paving bricks he can access, but not near enough to do the park walkways.
M. L. Cauthon, public works director, may have some paving stones. A member of
the project would need to contact him.
Jeff
Oberhaus said eight to 10 years ago he bought paving bricks at 55 cents apiece.
He suggested today’s prices would be $1 per brick. At least 600 square feet
–about 2400 bricks—would be required, possibly more.
NOTE: AFTER THE MEETING ART SCHNEIDER CONTACTED M. L. CAUTHON, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR. HE HAS PAVING BRICKS. THERE MAY BE SUFFICIENT NUMBERS. FUTURE PROJECTS MAY PROVIDE ADDITIONAL PAVING BRICKS. M. L. SAID THE BRICKS DO HAVE A SLIGHT CURVE. ART WILL TAKE A SAMPLE BRICK TO JEFF OBERHAUS TO SEE IF THERE WOULD BE ANY AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT PROBLEMS, SUCH AS WHEELCHAIRS BEING DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER ON THE BRICKS.
Plantings
around Cole sculpture—Prairie grass was discussed, but consensus it
would only “look good” a couple of weeks out of the year.
Dorothy Whitten suggested information on Hannah Cole should be part of
the design.
Gary
Nauman said signs such as those at Cobblestone Park, made of molded plastic and
ultraviolet protected, would cost at least $450 apiece. Gary said another option
would e to put a plaque on the back wall with a walkway from the rear of the
Cole statue to that point. An 18-inch by 28-inch plaque would cost about $1000.
Veterans
Monument—Art
Schneider was asked if he had anything to report on the proposed Veterans
Monument. Art said he had e-mailed Frank Thacher and invited Frank to the
meeting. Frank is attending a Lutheran Church meeting and unable to attend. Art
said he then sent e-mail asking to meet with Frank and the VFW and has not
received a reply.
Eagle
Head World War 1 Monument—Art was asked if there had been a response to
the newspaper article and radio news seeking a photo of the World War 1 monument
with the eagle head intact. Art said he had not. Bob Dyer said he would check
his files to see if he had such a photo.
Signage
for Future Site: Winky Fredrich has volunteered to do a 4x4 sign
showing fundraising progress. It will be placed at the corner of Main and Morgan
Street. She asked about a thermometer goal. Discussion to set goal of $35,000.
Gary said his office would handle red paint showing progress toward the $35,000
goal.
Donations—Much
discussion on the need to significantly increase the fundraising.
Boonville
School Alumni Association. The class of 1956 of LSE High School will be meeting
during Heritage Days. Dr. Randy Meyer of Columbia is the contact. Art Schneider
said he would write a letter requesting donation and support for the Hannah Cole
sculpture.
Joyce
Lake is another contact for the alumni association.
Meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m.