Greenwood, Wisconsin's Peace Memorial
Transcribed by Stan & Janet Schwarze.
SCULPTOR DURIG’S TRIBUTE TO
GOLD STAR MOTHERS TO BE UNVEILED
The little town of Greenwood, Wisconsin bustles with activity these days as its
citizens prepare for the unveiling of a beautiful statue, a memorial to Gold
Star mothers, on Oct. 3, 1937. The statue is the work of a noted sculptor,
Professor Ernest Durig, who with Mrs. Durig and their daughter, Rosemarie, has
spent the past several weeks in Greenwood.
His work in sculpturing the statue is Professor Durig’s gift to Greenwood. Early
in the summer, Mrs. Durig and Rosemarie went to Greenwood to visit at the home
of Mrs. Durig’s brother-in-law and sister, Mr. and Mrs. Louis Arbs. Later
Professor Durig joined them, planning to stay only a week.
Death of Gold Star Mother, Kate Mike (1857 - 1937)
FDR INVITED
President and Mrs. Roosevelt, vice president Garner, a number of foreign
diplomats, Senators F. Ryan Duffey and Robert M. La Follette, Congressman Merlin
Hull, Governor Philip La Follette and other state officers, state American
Legion officials and other persons of national prominence are being invited to
attend the festivities. In addition to the formal invitation issued by the
Greenwood Commercial Club, Mrs. Durig has written to Mrs. Roosevelt, telling her
of the event. In reply Mrs. Durig received a letter stating that Mrs. Roosevelt
is much interested. Since it has been reported that Mrs. Roosevelt is to be in
Iowa the latter part of September, it is believed she may visit Greenwood at the
time of the unveiling of the monument.
ALTERNATE PLANS
An Invitation to unveil the statue will be extended to President Roosevelt, and
if he does not attend but Mrs. Roosevelt does, she will be asked to officiate.
Should neither of them be present, plans are being made whereby the president
could release the covering of the monument by pressing a button in Washington,
Sunday afternoon, Oct 3 at 2 o’clock is the time scheduled.
DURIGS LIKE TOWN
The family liked Greenwood, as it reminded them of their native Switzerland.
They enjoyed meeting and knowing the people and they delighted in the simple
life the place afforded. They wanted to do something for Greenwood, and so
Professor Durig agreed to design and sculpture the monument if Greenwood would
provide the materials.
And so, the artist’s contemplated visit of one week has stretched to two months
and will last a few weeks longer while he is completing the statue. The memorial
represents the Gold Star mother, holding with one arm a fallen soldier and with
the other hand holding high the American flag.
Mrs. Durig, who conceived the idea which her husband is so beautifully putting
into a permanent form, explain that the mother’s chin is held high, representing
courage to face the world, protect the flag, and while mourning those lost to
encourage peace that there may be no more fallen soldiers. Mrs. Durig is a firm
advocate of peace and to her the statue is a symbol of the peace for which the
mothers of the world are striving.
WHITE MATERIAL USED
The statue is being carved of a manufactured stone made of white cement and
white sand. As far as is known it is the only monument made of this material in
the United States. It is not new to Professor Durig though, for he has worked
with this type of stone in Italy. When completed the state will be valued at
$50,000. Cement and sand required to erect the slab cost $1000.
Standing near the center of the town, the beauty of the monument will be shown
off to advantage. The statue itself is nine feet high and stands on a sturdy
base, which brings the total height of the monument to 15 feet.
Across the base will be the inscription, “Dedicated to all the Gold Star mothers
– erected by the peace loving people of Greenwood.”
The statue is now nearing completion, with the strength and courage of the ideal
it represents becoming apparent as the stone assumes warmth, and almost life,
under the chisels of the artist. Above the base of the monument is a wooden
platform and enclosure about the stature and the plaster of Paris model which
the artist consults as he carves the stone.
During the summer Professor Durig has also made plaster busts of many of the
citizens of Greenwood. These, too, will be on exhibition at the time of the
festival.
To Whom It May Concern:
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FAMOUS WORKS
Famous as a foremost sculptor, Professor Durig has made models of many of the
world’s most prominent persons. Beginning his work, when a boy, Professor Durig
later studied for two years under the famous French artist,
Rodin. He has lived
and worked in many European counties and for the past nine years the family has
resided in the United States.
Some of the world’s famous whose likenesses have been reproduced in stone or
bronze by Professor Durig, include Pope Pius, Mussolini, Cardinal Hayes, Vice
President and Mrs. Garner, ex-president Hoover, Will Rogers, Knute Rockney,
George Eastman, Thomas Edison, Pola Negri, Floyd Gibbons, and Ruth Bryan Owen.
In 1924 in Geneva, he made a bust of Haile Selaissie and he has also modeled
Cardinal Fumusori Biondi, who Professor Durig says he believes will be the next
pope. Roberto Farinaci, who is Mussolini’s right-hand man, sat for Professor
Durig in 1922, and at another time he modeled Professor Max Huber, president of
the international Red Cross and president of the world court at the Hague.
In Paris a few years ago Professor Durig selected Veronica Gedeon as an
outstanding model and made a full figure statue of her. She was the model whom
everyone heard of last spring when she was murdered in New York.
WORKS FROM LIFE
Nearly all of his work is done from life. Professor Durig feels that the only
way to get a true model is from life. One of the few pieces which he has made
without the models present was a bust of George Washington which he did and gave
to President Hoover in 1932. In creating this bust Professor Durig did not use
any one picture or bust of Washington, rather it was a representation of his
idea of Washington from all he had seen and heard of him.
Professor Durig says that the famous of those who have sat for him were most
friendly and simple folk. Of Mussolini, he says, “he was a good fellow.” Of the
conversations which he had with Mussolini while sculpturing his bust, Professor
Durig remembers that Mussolini once said to him, “if the people want to be free
they must first obey the law.”
CHARMING FAMILY
The Durigs are a charming and interesting family. Mrs. Durig, besides giving her
husband many ideas which he executes in marble, writes poetry and has had a
considerable amount of her work published in German. Some of her poetry is for
children but behind all her work is her philosophy of peace, she says. Plans are
now being made for the translation of some of Mrs. Durig’s poetry into English.
Rosemarie, the Durig’s seventeen-year-old daughter, is an accomplished harpist
and has played for Mrs. Roosevelt and other notables. When the Durigs return
east after the unveiling of the monument Rosemarie will enter school in
Washington.
COMMERCIAL CLUB WORK
Members of The Greenwood Commercial Club--1937
Top row, L>R:
Herbert
Schwarze, Frank LaBonte,
Harvey Flatz,
John Wuethrich,
Dr. Loren G. Giswold,
Charles Varney,
William Neuenfeldt,
James Slauson,
P. W. Gullord.
Second row: Tony Gasparich,
Dr. Reginald L. Barnes,
Morris Emerson,
Henry Keiner,
Orlando J. Amundson,
George Hoehne,
Rev. George Heilman,
Elmer Johnson,
John Snedic,
August
Herman Noetzel,
Palmer Vinger.
Bottom row: Rev. E. G. Pfeiffer,
Rev. John Trinko,
Mayor Ed Buker, Prof.
Ernst Durig, Rev. J. J. Novak,
T. F. Schiller,
Louis Arbs.
*Club History
The Durigs are enjoying the progress of the monument and they share with the
citizens of Greenwood in anxiously awaiting the time of the unveiling.
Preparations for the event are being made by the Greenwood Commercial Club,
which is being assisted by other Greenwood organizations, including the American
Legion post and its Ladies’ Auxiliary, the Woman’s Club and other groups. It is
planned to have various American Legion posts in that vicinity and the Service
company of National Guard at Neillsville take part in the festivities. There
will be music by the Greenwood, Owen and Withee High School bands and by the
Marshfield and Neillsville American Legion fife and drum corps. Initiations will
be issued to 500 persons for the banquet, which will be a part of the event.
Traffic officers from several surrounding counties have already offered their
services in assisting with managing the traffic, as it is expected that several
thousand people will attend the affair at Greenwood, which claims to be the
smallest incorporated city in the United States.
It should be a colorful crowd. The people of Greenwood are hoping that the
president and Mrs. Roosevelt will be there. Mrs. Durig says she feels certain
that a number of foreign diplomats, many of whom the Durigs know personally,
will be present. The Durigs are acquaintances, too, of the Roosevelts. A number
of prominent Wisconsin persons have already signified their intention of being
present.
Yes, October 3 is to be a great day for the peace loving people of Greenwood.
SOURCES: Greenwood City Library
Historical Clippings, Lorraine (Schwarze) Ernst Album, Greenwood Gleaner