Boonslick Outdoor Arts Project
October 26, 2004
Cooper County Emergency Preparedness Center
Attending: Gary Nauman, Carmen Jones, Toni Covington, and Art Schneider.
Reminder: State Archivist Ken Winn will be discussing Arsenic and Old Face: The Rise & Fall of Arsenic as a 19th Century Beauty Aid” at 7 p.m. Monday, November 1, at 7 p.m. at the Stein House.
Hannah Cole Plague and Donor Plaque: Art still has not received word from international Bronze on the status of the two plaques.
Status of Busts recommended for Morgan Street Park: George Caleb Bingham, David Barton, and Joseph Kinney. Gray Nauman reported that the Boonville Parks & Recreation Department has reviewed the recommendation and is expected o make a recommendation to the Boonville City Council after the board’s November meeting.
J. Milton Turner Fundraising Update: Toni Covington reported $3960 income. This includes ads purchased for fans. Actual funds rose for the bust total $3,745. With the $5000 from the city that comes to $8,745. The cost of the bust is $8,658, not including the donor plaque. So this should be within $250 of the total cost. There are three potential donations coming. She said Caterpillar probably will be a donor, H. T. Mays and the senior high students may make a contribution.
Carmen Jones reported that there were 250 to 300 people at the State Historical Society meeting and that she was presented with the $250 check from the society’s Brownlee Fund.
She mentioned that Pat Holmes, a Boonville resident and historical society employee, also was there and that they both distributed brochures on the old one-room segregated black schools in Cooper County (written by Gary Kremer and Brett Rogers) as well as J. Milton Turner hand fans. She sat with Dale and Phyllis Reesman. He is a member of the Board of Trustees. Carmen said there was great interest in the handouts.
Carmen also reported that Kwan Wu had returned a signed contract and that CCBC had issued a check for $3000 to him. The $8,658 is $300 more than originally bid because the dimensions sent to him for the first bust were five inches shorter than what had been approved earlier.
Because of the early success in the fundraising, the two planned CCBC fundraisers will be used to establish a scholarship fund. One of those fundraisers will be during February’s Black History Month and sculptor Kwan Wu will be bringing the clay maquette for public comment and approval. Also, Brett Rogers will speak about J. Milton Turner in February. The second fundraiser will be the second weekend of June. Carmen will be in contact with Wayne Jones to arrange programming in the schools and the J. Milton Turner display made by Brett Rogers.
Script for J. Milton Turner bust plaque. Brett was unable to be at the meeting. He was asked to write a 200-word script. He brought the draft to Art Schneider on October 29. The draft is below. Please send comments to all on the draft proposal.
JAMES MILTON TURNER
James Milton Turner was born a slave in St. Louis County, Missouri, on August 22, 1839. By the time of his death, on November 1, 1915, he had devoted a lifetime to the betterment of humanity and above all, to the education of his own African American race.
Freed in 1843, he became an outspoken advocate of abolition and the rights of other freedman. After the Civil War and Emancipation, he worked tirelessly for black suffrage and other civil rights. First and foremost, he passionately believed that education was the key to freedom.
In 1868 he came to Boonville and established the first African American school in the area, where he taught with his wife. In 1869 he began the greatest project of his life, as a field agent for the Freedmen’s Bureau and a representative of the State Superintendent of Schools. From his home base of Boonville, Turner fought racism and helped establish thirty-two African American public schools in Missouri. He also played a major role in the founding of Lincoln Institute in Jefferson City—a college that would train generations of African American teachers.
Sadly, the importance of Turner’s contributions was never fully recognized during his lifetime. His tremendous and visionary efforts were a bold early step toward a racially free and equal United States.
At the November meeting comments on the draft will be finalized and then sent to the foundry for a cost estimate.
Indian sculptures: Earlier there was some discussion on one or two Osage Indian figures. Cost estimates are $35,000 for a six foot sculpture, $100 for a 12-foot and $120,000 for a 14-foot. As second estimate was $80,000 for two eight-foot figures, $110,000 for two 12-foot and $130,000 for two 14-foot figures. The second estimate does not include site preparation, transport, and a base or set up.
The county commission rejected placing the statues at the courthouse. They indicated support for the outdoor arts project and suggested lookout point at Harley Park as a possible location and also the proposed Hannah Cole fort site.
Conductor bronze—Mayor Danielle Blanck has written Mayor Darwin Hindman for information on contacting Mrs. Edward Jones. Her husband is the “father” of the statewide KATY Trail Park.
George Caleb Bingham bust—Bob Dyer requested Art investigate possibly duplicating the George Caleb Bingham bust that is in the Columbia City Hall. Art stopped at the hall and learned the sculptor was William Williams. It was sculpted in 1987. Williams has since moved to New York State.
Art was contacted by Sabra Tull Meyer, who noticed the proposal in last month’s meeting report.
Sabra prepared a Bingham bust for a private party in Columbia. She contacted the individual to seek permission for a second bust by making a mold of the first. The bust is of heroic size. Permission has been granted. Sabra said the cost would be about $6,000 for pedestal, bust and two bronze plaques. (That does not include the donor plaque, which would vary depending upon the number of names included.)
Sombart Family Bronze bas relief—With the Frederick Hotel undergoing massive renovations and Bob Dyer having noted several families worth recognizing with the outdoor arts, Art Schneider contacted Adam Jones , co-owner of the Frederick, to discuss a bas relief plaque with a narrative to attach to the Frederick. The hotel was built by the Sombarts and named after the son of a Sombart and is in front of what was the Sombart Mill.
Paul Sombart served the county as circuit clerk and as a state representative. It seemed fitting to recognize the family in this way. Art also has been in the process of contacting the GOP to sponsor a “roast” of outgoing State Rep. Larry Crawford to help fund the plaque.
Adam suggested that the plaque be free standing on a bronze post about midway between the Frederick and the street. The donors could be listed on the back. Cost is uncertain. Sabra Meyer is checking into it, but it should be les than $10,000. Adam said his firm would contribute $500 toward the plaque.
City of Boonville Funds—Decision to hold until next month on whether to seek partial Boonville City funding.
The project also will discuss whether to recommend to the Boonville City Council that 1% of the discussed fire department building costs and swimming pool/aquatic center be set aside for outdoor art at the sites.
Next meeting will be at: 6:30 p.m. Nov. 16, Cooper County Emergency Preparedness Center meeting room.