HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommittee on Memorial to the Minutemen of 1775 report, 1950 r
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen,
Town of Lexington, Massachusetts.
Gentlemen,- FIRST AND FINAL REPORT OF TOWN COMMITTEE
Re MEMORIAL TO LEXINGTON MINUTE MEN OF APRIL 19, 1775.
This committee appointed in June, 1946 by Moderator Robert H. Holt
was authorized by vote of Town Meeting April 1, 1946 in action on Article 68
of the Warrant. Appointees were Julius Seltzer, Fred W. Bodge, John J. Garrity,
Mrs. Richard E. Rowse, Mrs. Robert W. Fernald, Philip B. Parsons and Walter L.
Chambers, all citizens of Lexington. The duties of this committee were to
pass on the historical appropriateness of the proposed Memorial and its exact
location on the grounds of the Buckman Tavern.
The committee met June 17, 1946, five members being present. Mr. Seltzer
was elected Chairman, and Albert G. Frothingham, Clerk of the Lexington Minute
Men, Inc., was appointed Clerk of this committee, ex officio. The committee
examined a photograph of the modeled design proposed by the Lexington Minute
Men, Inc., and approved it as a basic design. It represented a bronze sculpture
by Bashka Paeff, mounted on a granite base. The committee visited the proposed
location desired by the Minute Men and recommended by John J. Garrity, Park
Commissioner, and approved it. The method of mounting the bronze sculpture
was discussed but no formal action was taken as between granite "steps" shown
in the design, or field stones.
When the full sized clay model was ready for inspection, each member
of the committee visited it at the studio of Bashka Paeff in Cambridge. It
was shown mounted on wooden "steps" simulating the granite indicated in the
basic design. Each member expressed enthusiastic approval of the sculpture,
and approved the proposed form for the granite base as being more artistic
than the otherwise proposed fieldstone treatment. This constituted the second
meeting of the committee.
The third meeting of the committee was held November 16, 1948, six mem-
bers being present, to consider an artist's drawing of a possible support of
the bronze sculpture using field stones instead of cut granite. By request
of the committee, the Clerk read the contract between the Lexington Minute Men, inc.,
and Sculptress Bashka Paeff. The contract specified that the bronze was to be
mounted on a granite base, and it referred to the photograph of the basic design
which was made "a part hereof" to the contract. While some of the committee
expressed a personal preference for the fieldstone treatment if it could be
produced in the colorings of the artist's drawing, it was recognized that there
was difficulty in obtaining the vara-colored stones of correct size at this
late date, and finding a stonemason capable of creating a fieldstone base equal
to the artist's picture. Therefore a majority of the committee gave their
approval to the more classical cut stone treatment for the granite base as had
been previously approved upon their visit at the studio to view the finished
clay model so mounted.
Yours respectfully,
TOWN OF LEXINGTON COMMITTEE, Re MEMORIAL TO
THE LEXINGTON MINUTE MEN OF APRIL 19, 1775.
JULIUS SELTZER, Chairman,
Albert G Frothingham,
Clerk, ex officio.