Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 109, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 May 1910 — GROUND BROKEN FOR MONUMENT FOUNDATION. [ARTICLE]

GROUND BROKEN FOR MONUMENT FOUNDATION.

Sculptress Has Statue Model Completed And AU Points to Completion for duly 4th Unveiling. Excavating was begun Friday for the foundation for the Milroy? Soldiers’ monument. It was decided to dig to the solid rock, a depth of 8 feet, in order that the foundation for the monument may have a solid bed and thus always stand erect. The excavation will be 19x20 feet and the foundation will consist of rock and cement. The weather permitting the building of the foundation will immediately follow the excavation work. The decision to set the foundation on the' solid rock bas greatly added to the cost, as it will cost almost S3OO. to build the foundation.

W. H. Mackey, the marble dealer, who has the contract for the erection of the stone steps, pedestals, exedra, and the lettering of the sqjne, has ordered the stone and states that it will be ready in plenty of time before the 4th to allow the setting of the statue of General Milroy. Miss Washburn, the sculptress, has completed the full sized figure ready for the plaster cast that serves as a mould for the metal. Miss Washburn has been at the work ever since her visit to Rensselaer some two months ago. She engaged a work room especially for the work and has employed every day except Sundays at the work. Wishing the work inspected before Cast, Miss Washburn invited Mrs. Thompson to come to Chicago and view the work, and accompanied by Mrs. Ross, she was there this week, returning home Thursday. She pronounces the likeness perfect. Mrs. Thompson was neighbor of General Milroy during his residence- in Rensselaer and well acquainted with him and his family and qualified to pass upon the statue.

The figure stands 8 feet in height and the diligent and industrious sculptress who is doing this work 'for her old home toVn as a gift, has deftly moulded the clay while standing on a ftame built around the figure. The work cap never be left for more than a day at a time owing to the fact that the drying of the clay makes the moulding impossible. When left for short periods it is necessary to wrap it in wet cloths. Day after day Miss Washburn has pursued her labor and it will be a monument to her memory as one of the grandest daughters of Jasper county. The building of the cast about it will not take very much time and will be begun in about a week by the moulders. After it has set, it is sawed into three parts and the bronze is cast in three parts and then assembled. The figure shows the general in cavalry boots, service uniform and shoulder cape. His hat is in one hand and sword in the other. Artists have passed criticism on the work and pronounced it perfect, saying that it is a figure that would have cost under ordinary conditions $7,000. It is probable that the writer and possiblly others will visit Miss Washburn’s studio the coming week and see the figure of Jasper county’s distinguished soldier.