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PRESERVATION AND CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION VOLUME 24 MAY-JUNE. 2004 NUMBER 3

Focus on: Taft's Lincoln the school had neither tuition charges nor Lawyer Statue fees. His studies at the school were signifi- cant because of the opportunity it offered him to be at the center of western culture Lorado Zakok Taft was born on April 29, and art. He received a Prix d' Atelier 1860 in Elmwood, lllinois. He was the first of four children, two sons and two daugh- award for being the best student in his class before he left Paris. While in France, ters, born to Don Carlos and Mary Lucy Foster Taft. Taft also actively participated with the McCall Protestant Mission. He taught Background Sunday School, Bible study classes, and English. Don Carlos Taft was an academically dis- tinguished man who graduated from When he returned to the United States in Amherst College and then three years later from the Union Theological 1886, Taft established himself in . Seminary in New York City, prior to mov- In 1906, he rented studio space from the ing to Elmwood where he met and mar- University of Chicago, which he called ried Mary. In 1871, Don Carlos was Midway Studios. He began teaching at the appointed to a position at what was then Chicago Art Institute as he slowly, but the lllinois Industrial University and confidently progressed into an interna- moved the family to Champaign, at which tionally known sculptor. He retired as an instructor for the Institute in 1911, but time Taft was eleven years old. Upon com- The Urbana Park District has restored the remained a lecturer up until the time of ing to the University, Don Carlos became his death. Lincoln Statue with the help of a Save the college's first geology professor. Outdoor Sculpture (50S) grant. PACA pro- vided a grant for landscaping the area around The family's house was built in 1873 at 601 Much of the work Taft sculpted during his the statue. time at the Art Institute was in the form of E. John St., Champaign (now Swanlund Building). This was where Taft lived for portraiture and military monuments. lectures, and other literature. In 1919, Taft These included about a dozen civil war most of his adolescence until the age of was named a nonresident professor of art monuments and grave memorials in twenty, which included the time he spent at the University of lllinois, where he fre- earning his Bachelor and Master degrees Vicksburg, Gettysburg, and the states of quently was seen packing the halls of lec- from the University of lllinois. The Taft's lllinois, Indiana, Michigan, and New York. ture rooms. The University established the owned the home until 1882. The property Then in 1893, two works, TheSleepof " Lectureship" to ensure that passed through several owners until Prof. Flowers and The Awakening of the Flowers, he would come to campus every spring for a series of lectures. Charles Rolfe bought it in 1887. Rolfe gained him national attention and recog- owned the property until 1949, when the nition at the World's Columbian Expo- University purchased it. It was initially sition in Chicago. These figures were After 1910, during his later years, Taft graceful, intertwining, and delicate in worked on larger monuments and com- used as a Speech and Hearing Clinic form. (1950-1974) and the office of Campus memorative fountains. These pieces Parking (1974-1981). It was moved to 1401 demanded more spacious settings and He then modeled The Mountain and the S. Maryland Drive, Urbana in 1981. larger proporti()ns than his earlier works. Prairie and The Solitude of the Soul for the His first fountain was The Fountain of the St. Louis World's Fair in 1904. Both attrib- At the age of twenty, Taft went to the Great Lakes, followed by The Thatcher Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris, France uted to the rise of Taft's success, the latter Memorial Fountain, Fountain of Creation, where he studied art for five years. His art was used as the subject of several period and . During this period there is a transition in the execution of education was based on the study of clas- poems. sical antiquity and on the nude. The Taft's traditional style. There is school itself was rigidly organized as a Taft's national reputation provided com- government supported institution. Taft missions all over the country and opened A consistent preferencefor closed only had to pay for boarding costs, the doors for him to publish books, articles, monumental forms; a rejectionofa rather unmodified realism for a broad- from the sale of the Green Street property, Alma Mater bronze statue (1929),the origi- er and more simplified treatment of would be less than half of what he usually nal plaster cast of ThePioneers(1928) surface and detail; a predilection for received for bronze work. He began his inside the Main Library,and TheSonsand the themes of human significance; a initial work on Lincoln in the fall of 1924, Daughtersof DeucalionandPyrrha (1933) talent for monumental schemes; and writing to a friend in the spring of 1925, limestone figures on the University cam- an ability to adapt to varied kinds of pus. The AlmaMater is done in much the sculptural problems. I have thought for years I would never same, simplified, classical style as Lincoln. undertake a 'Lincoln.' I felt that noth- Her outstretched arms welcome the public It was also at this time that Taft began to ing remained to be said: [Augustus] to the University as she stands by her sculpt with an American nostalgia, using Saint Gauden had made it impossible throne with Leaming and Labor at her less and less clay and more and more [1887 bronze sculpture of Abraham sides. bronze and stone. He wanted to give Lincoln in Lincoln Park, Chicago]. To something back to his native land through my surprise, I find myself busy...on a TheSonsand Daughtersof Deucalionand his artwork. He deemed that, "one owes working model of 'Lincoln' which is Pyrrha is done in a different style of art something more than taxes to the commu- new and promising... the important than the above statues. They were origi- nity...finer than being an artist is to be ~ work which it threatens to become. nally intended as part of an elaborate artist-citizen." These characteristics are sculpture park that Taft had conceived for vividly seen in Taft's The Pioneers (1928). The ten-foot tall bronze Lincoln statue a space near his Midway Studios. The "..,[I] n his final phase of work [Taft] had a depicts a very simple, humanistic image of University instead bought them. While the tendency to return to earlier ideas...His the young Abraham Lincoln, as he was Daughters are presently at their original work of earlier periods portrayed a clas- during his circuit lawyer days when he location in front of the University Library, sic-allegoric female figure"which has now first met the Cunninghams. Taft wrote of the Sonswere relocated from the north become less ideal, more human, less his Lincoln saying, side of Foellinger Auditorium to the south Renaissance, more Midwestern." side sometime after 1980. He was not 'the,martyred president' Urbana's Lincoln allofhislife.I neednot showhim asa Taft is also known for several works with- This more simplified display of Taft's tra- manofsorrows,but asan earnestgood in the State of illinois including the ditional sculpting style was at its height humoredorator,stating his case.I bronze Fountain of theGreatLakes(1913) in when J.e. Blair approached Taft to sculpt shall modelhim leaningslightly back- Grant Park, Fountainof Timeon the a memorial statue of Abraham Lincoln in ward,supportedby bothhandson an University of Chicago campus at Jackson Urbana, Illinois. Blair, a long time friend imagineddesk. Park in Chicago, and Blackhawk (1911) of Taft's from their University days, was a a\>ove the Rock.,River in Oregon. His 1ast professor of horticulture and chairman of Location piece was the Lincolnand DouglasMemorial the Urbana Park District Board. He was The statue was originally sited facing tablet (1936)in Quincy. also a trustee, along with Franklin Boggs southeast at the southeast comer of the and George Bennett, of Mary Cunning- Urbana Lincoln Hotel, now the Historic Taft is nationally known for works such as ham's living will. Mrs. Cunningham's will Lincoln Hotel, on Race Street in Urbana. his The Solitude of the Soul exhibited at the directed that the trustees, Lincoln was dedicated at this location on St. Louis Exposition, the Columbus Foun- July 3, 1927. Park District Board Commis- tain in front of Union Station in Washing- ...sell [the Green Street pruperty] and sioners and Taft dedicated the statue on ton D.e., and the Thatcher Memorial in convey at their discretion without behalf of the Cunninghams. The location Denver (1918) authority or approval of any court and at the hotel was only temporary while to use the proceeds to erect in Urbana Park District Commissioners obtained the He is internationally known for his sculp- a monument and memorial to Abra- granite pedestal and molded base. tural work at the main entrance of the ham Lincoln with discretion as to loca- Horticulture Building at the 1893 Colum- tion, kind, character, and nature. On December4, 1927,Lincoln was moved bian Exposition. Notably, his Midway to the east entrance area of Carle Park Studios at 6016 S. Ingleside Avenue in Judge and Mrs. Cunningham were promi- where it was first set upon its pedestal Chicago has been listed as a National nent founding members of the City of and base. The statue was then placed fac- Historic Landmark. The studios' signifi- Urbana. During their lives they had ing due east in the center of the same larg- cance statement reads "From 1906 to 1929, befriended Lincoln while he worked the' er rectangular tract of land that exists these were the'studios of Lorador Taft Eighth Judicial Circuit through Urbana today. In 1954, the statue was moved (1860-1936), sculptor of realistic works of between 1837-1848. The friendship approximately twenty feet north from the monumental scale, art teacher, and author. between Lincoln and the Cunninghams 1927 location to the triangular tract where His studios are now owned by the lasted through his presidential days, until it presently rests. This second and final 'University of Chicago." Taft died at age 76 his untimely death in 1864. This fed their move was at the request of Taft'who had in Chicago, leaving behind his wife, Ada desire to establish a memorial to their always envisioned Lincoln facing southeast Bartlett Taft, and three daughters. friend, Abraham Lincoln. with the sun constantly shining upon the statue's face. This article was takenfrom the National After much encouragement from Blair, Register Nomination prepared by Ul graduate Taft agreed to sculpt the statue despite the Other Works student, Lauren Kerestes. The statue was list- fact that his commission, $10,000 acquired Other local Taft sculptures include the edon March 10,2004. Postcard from Detroit provides services to historic home and property owners and the community at Several months ago I was contacted by large. Preservation Wayne works to pro- Carolyn Mosher from Detroit, Michigan, mote the preservation and restoration of who is leading a group. that is planning to historic homes, landmarks, and districts open a "non-profit" architectural salvage throughout metropolitan Detroit and is influential with a number of the local warehouse. In April, Carolyn visited the PACA warehouse to see our operation. preservation groups; I had been told that She invited me to come to Detroit to make it was important to get Doug's support for a presentation to help gain support for her the project. I would like to think that I efforts. might have helped alleviate some of his concerns. Carolyn arranged for me to stay at the Inn on Ferry Street, on the campus of Wayne The subject of my talk for the evening had State and a block away from the Detroit been left pretty much up to me. I started Art Institute. Elena Fracassa, one of the to get a little nervous when Mike showed board members, picked me up and gave me the Happenings Section of the Detroit me a tour of the downtown. This was Metrotimes that listed the following event: "How Architectural Salvage Can Save The Michigan Central Depot was built in important since the next day 1.2 million 1913 and has been vacant since 1989. Plans people would be there to celebrate the Detroit. Sponsored by Architectural are to convert it to a new police headquarters. Piston's winning the NBA Championship. Salvage Warehouse of Detroit and After dinner we toured a few more areas Cityscape Detroit, 6:30, Thursday, June 17, Fromforgottendetroit.com. Mayor had proposed 1,300 demolitions of Detroit and neighboring Gross Isle. The 2004 at Wayne State University. This per year. I just thought if they only got next morning I was picked up by Becky unique presentation will discuss the 10% that would be.full time job for a crew Binno Savage and joined by Carolyn and virtues of rescuing material from build- two board members. Becky is an active ings slated for demolition. The resale of year round! The question session lasted Historic Planner and is the President of rescued materials can support efforts of for an hour, until I eventually wore them out. Later, over some beers at a local the Detroit Area Art Deco Society. We preservation groups working to restore toured numerous historic districts and Detroit's historic structures." I was ready watering hole, Elena said that I had had an audience that included "key and influ- countless endangered buildings. In fact, for this challenge with the help of Power- Point. Detroit has 83 designated historic districts. ential" people from the City Council, state Becky pointed out that Detroit is hosting government, and local preservation groups. the Super Bowl in 2006 and there is added I can't remember too much about the talk, incentive to "clean up" Detroit. This could however. I gave a brief history of PACA . I enjoyed my stay in Detroit, and learned mean the creation of a number of parking and highlighted how and why the salvage a lot thanks to my gracious hosts. I wish lots at the expense of up to 20 historic operation has been successful. I pointed to the group well. In the next newsletter I buildings in the downtown. a number of PACA projects over the years and how, with salvage profits, we have will share my impressions of the Historic York Architectural Warehouse in York, A lunch meeting was arranged where I established a number of programs to help Pennsylvania. met Doug McIntosh. Doug is an architect raise awareness for historic preservation and acting President of Preservation in east-central DIinois. I looked up at the clock and it was 7:25 and time for the last On the road with Rich Cahill, Salvage Co- Wayne. Preservation Wayne is metropoli- Chair tan Detroit's oldest and largest non-profit slide. As the questions began, I looked historic preservation organization, which around and counted about 75 people in attendance. Someone mentioned that the P.A.C.A. MEMBERSHIP APPUCATION

MEMBERSHIP CATEGORY TYPE INFORMATION: o Adult $15 o New - NAME: 0 Student $10 o Renewal o Senior Citizen $10 ADDRESS: 0 Family $20 PACA 0 Corporate $75 Box 2575. STATIONA CHAMPAIGN,IL61825 PHONE: o Additional Contribution _ WWW.PACACC.ORG 2173597222 E-MAIL: MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO PACA

Contributions are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. VIve Sheep Barn Disposal New & Renewing Memberships (received since the last newsletter) The University of illinois will soon be Charter Members (1981-1983) offering for relocation the east confine- Susan Appel ment wing of the South Farms Animal Mr. &Mrs. R.A.Avner Husbandry Sheep Barn (UIUC Bldg. #811), William Youngerman located east of the intersection of First Street and East St. Mary's Road in Cham- Over Ten Year Members paign, to a person(s) who is willing to Nina Rubel reassemble it at an alternate location. This Anthony Bamert Family 1912, 90 by 36 foot, gambrel roof, wood Bruce Creamer frame/clad building contains first-level Sharen Slade confinement space and a second-level loft. The 1912 Ul SheepBarn on the South Farms Tod Satterthwaite The Sheep Barn is considered historic, is available for relocation this fall. Scott Larimer & Rick Orr potentially eligible for listing on the Preservation Conference Keddy Hutson & Ann Boswell National Register of Historic Places, for its Michael Markstahler association with the University's South "Restore America: Communities at a Five to Ten Year Members Farms operations and University agricul- Crossroads" is the theme of the National tural research. John & Carol Leasure Preservation Conference to be held Sept. Tim Wilson & Siri Engstrom 28 to Oct. 3, in Louisville, Ky. Sponsored Although not specifically set, the window A. Ralph Senn by the National Trust for Historic Pres- for actual disassembly and site clearance Harold & Margaret Balbach ervation, the conference will provide will be brief and may be limited to two to Ray Lytle know-how, innovative ideas, and help for three weeks in September 2004. Successful Tim Kinkead people involved in saving our nation's his- proposers will need to present a disassem- Ginny Sims & Janice Lines toric places and revitalizing its communi- bly/reassembly plan, fulfill all UIUC ties. Contact the National Trust at Ray Lytle requirements, and be prepared to work in www.nthpconference.org for information. an expedited manner with the VIUC One to Four Year Members Loren Kirkwood Facilities & Services Office of Planning Salvage Donations and the Preservation Services Division of ChrisHill Benny & Lori Dow the illinois Historic Preservation Agency. Randy Cox

The formal advertisement period for pro- Salvage VIP's New Members Rich Cahill Darrel Foste posals concerning disassembly and reloca- Kevin Tracy Bob Swisher tion of the property is anticipated to begin Kathy Reeves Fred Newport Mike Richards Mike Miller on or about 15 July 2004. A complete proj- Mary Hays Dan Leasure Brian Duffield ect informational package will be available Carl Webber by the same date. Interested proposers can David W. McCall submit contact information to UIUC proj- Taste of Champaign VIP's Gina Manola ect planner Kevin Duff at 217/244-0344 or Phyllis Godwin Bill & Joan Price [email protected] to be added to the proj- Dave Godwin ect informational package emaiI/mailing Kathy Reeves Remember to checkyour mailing labelfor list. Karen Tindale your membership renewal date. The date Mike Tindale shown indicates when you last renewed; Habitat for Humanity membership runs for one year from that date.

PACA Newsletter P.O. Box 2575, Station A, Champaign, IL 61825 NON-PROFIT Catherine Barbercheck, President ORG. Daniel Leasure, Vice-President U.S. POSTAGE Richard Cahill, Secretarylfreasurer PAID Karen Lang Kummer, Exec. Director CHAMPAlGN,IL PERMIT NO. 133 359-PACA: Telephone & Answering Service website: pacacc.org e-mail: [email protected] Printed on recycled paper

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