799 Queen Street Robert Burns Memorial Statue

Transcription

1 799 Queen Street Robert Burns Memorial Statue Memorial Committee, and he engaged the McIntosh-Gullett Granite Company of Toronto to prepare the pedestal. Celebrated sculptor, W. Grant Stevenson, cast the bronze statue. Stevenson, who designed a great many Burns statues, said that this was the best statue he had ever cast and the finest likeness of the bard. A replica of the Fredericton Burns Statue stands in Chicago, both having been cast from the same mold. Description The Robert Burns Memorial Statue is located on the Green, east of the Beaverbrook Art Gallery. The bronze statue, which stands ten feet six inches tall upon a granite pedestal, was cast by renowned sculptor, W. Grant Stevenson, in Heritage Value The Burns Memorial was not only the first public statue erected in Fredericton but also in the province of New Brunswick. In 1903, Oswald S. Crocket, President of the Fredericton Society of St. Andrew, proposed that the different Scottish Societies join forces to erect a statue to the memory of Robert Burns. Mr. O.S. Crocket was installed as Chairman of the Provincial Burns The Robert Burns Memorial Statue was unveiled Thanksgiving Day, October 18, 1906 in a well-attended public ceremony. Lieutenant-Governor D. C. Fraser provided the oration and spoke for fifty-five minutes. The Burns Statue, which was draped in a Union Jack flag, was uncovered by Belle J. Hutchison, daughter of Ernest Hutchison. Ernest Hutchison was a former MLA and Past president of the Highland Society of Miramichi. Unveiling of Burns statue, October 18, 1906 (PANB P18-260) Due to defects in the bronze casting and the appearance of unsightly rust three years after it was erected, the Burns Memorial Statue was recast. The new

2 statue was placed in position without ceremony in September The Burns Statue had originally been placed on the Green opposite the Provincial Legislature, but plans to build the Beaverbrook Art Gallery in that vicinity necessitated movement of the monument. In the fall of 1956, the Burns Memorial Statue was shifted east of its original location, preparatory for the construction of the gallery. The Robert Burns Memorial Statue was erected at Fredericton, the capital, as a provincial monument to Scottish pride and spirit. Character-Defining Elements The character-defining elements associated with the Burns Memorial Statue include: Bronze cast statue in the likeness of Robert Burns Bronze statue a reflection of decorated career of sculptor, W. Grant Stevenson Statue placed upon granite pedestal Sides of plinth ornamented by bronze relief panels, depicting scenes from Cottar s Saturday Night, Tam O Shanter, and John Anderson My Jo.

3 Beaverbrook Statue Description This 9-foot bronze likeness of Lord Beaverbrook sits atop an 11-foot stone pedestal in Officers Square, which was unveiled in Heritage Value The heritage value of this statue is associated not only with the prominent personality, Lord Beaverbrook, but in the celebrated artistry of its designer, the world renowned Italian sculptor, Vincent Apap. In 1956, Fredericton night watchman, T. Donald Shun Ryan suggested that a statue be erected in the city to honour Lord Beaverbrook, a great benefactor to both the city and the province. William Maxwell Aitken, who was born in Ontario but grew up in Chatham, New Brunswick, was a clever and successful entrepreneur. As a young man he worked as a clerk in law office where he became friends with Richard Bedford Bennett, later Prime Minister, and James Dunn, later a fabulously wealthy financier. Because of his savvy business sense, Max Aitken quickly amassed his own fortune. In 1917 Max Aitken took the title of 1 st Baron of Beaverbrook, becoming known world-wide as Lord Beaverbrook. Often living abroad, Beaverbook never forgot his New Brunswick home and roots. He would become a great benefactor, sponsoring innovation most especially in the cultural sector leaving an incredible legacy in buildings constructed on the UNB campus, and the artistic imprint left in the Beaverbrook Art Gallery, completed in The idea of a statute in honour of Lord Beaverbrook caught the local imagination, and given his noted benevolence towards children, contributions to the statue fund were capped at a dime, well within youthful budgets. School children donated dimes in droves, and the names of all those who made a ten cent contribution were recorded in a ledger which was tucked into the base of the statue. While the dime campaign was underway, Beaverbrook ordered the architects of his proposed Art Gallery to call for tenders. The original site, located at the southeast corner of Officers Square, was abandoned in favour of building the Gallery on The Green opposite the Legislature. However, with apparently no debate, Officers Square was chosen as the site for the Beaverbrook statue. In the summer of 1957, the statue was completed and ready to be shipped from Naples, Italy. The unveiling was scheduled for 28 August 1957, and a half-holiday was declared so that everyone from school children to clerks and business owners could attend the ceremony. T. Donald Shun Ryan unveiled the Beaverbrook Statue in a decorated and highly organized celebration, which placed children, especially Scouts and Girl Guides in a prominent position near the front of the statue. On 5 September, 1957, Lord Beaverbrook thanked the children for the dime donations which made the statue possible. Years later in 1961, when it was suggested to create Beaverbrook

4 Day on Lord Beaverbrook s birthday (25 May), the idea was quickly accepted and implemented. Beaverbrook Day was only an observance for adults, but was celebrated as a school holiday for children. The practice lasted on a few years, coming to an end by The ledger containing the names of the donors, including a great many children, is still ensconced in the Beaverbrook Statue. Character-Defining Elements The character-defining elements associated with the Beaverbrook Statue include: 9-foot bronze statue atop an 11- foot stone pedestal Association with the legacy of Lord Beaverbrook

5 Sir James Dunn Memorial Fountain Description This 2-tier marble fountain, supported by the Three Graces, is surrounded by a memorial inscription carved into its granite base. The fountain, which formerly stood on the grounds of the famous Stowe Palace in Buckinghamshire, England, is situated on The Green near the Beaverbrook Art Gallery. Heritage Value The heritage value of this fountain is associated not only with its former placement on the Stowe estate, but also with the friendship between Lord Beaverbrook and Sir James Dunn. The Stowe estate had belonged to the Temple family from the 16 th century. By the mid-19 th century, desperate times had forced the 2 nd Duke of Buckingham to dispose of most of the household contents, with items so numerous the sale last four days. In 1889, the Buckingham title expired. In the 20 th century, the manor was sold and converted to a school. Antique dealer, Bert Crowther, purchased the fountain which had once decorated the garden at Stowe Palace, and in turn made it available for sale in Lord Beaverbrook had lost a valued friend when Sir James Hamet Dunn died in James Dunn had climbed from ordinary circumstances to become a wealthy financier and leading industrialist. Born and raised in Bathurst, New Brunswick, James Dunn would meet Richard Bedford Bennett, later Prime Minister, and William Maxwell Aitken, later Lord Beaverbrook while working in a law office in his home town. The friendship forged in this law office endured throughout their lives, and when James Dunn died, Beaverbrook intended to honour the memory of his lost friend by gifting a fountain to the City of Fredericton. In 1960, Beaverbrook contacted Bert Crowther, who was selling the fountain which formerly stood in the famous gardens at Stowe Palace. Not satisfied with the 950 price tag for the fountain, Beaverbrook managed to get it reduced it by 100. Beaverbrook arranged to have the fountain shipped to Fredericton, directly to the Mayor in July By December of that year, architectural and engineer firm Mott & Miles had erected the fountain and provided a protective winter covering. When Myles reported to Beaverbrook about the successful installation of the fountain, he made the mistake of writing that it looked quite well. Beaverbrook fired back with a sharply worded response: What do you mean when you tell me that the fountain looks quite well? I hope very much that the fountain is magnificent. If not, it will have to be torn down and another put in its place. Beaverbrook would only submit the text of the inscription for the fountain s base once he approved the stone chosen, and the Charlotte County Granite Company won the bid. Local firm, Diamond Construction, installed the granite base bearing the inscription written by Beaverbrook in memory of James Dunn. The unveiling was projected for May 1961, but the epic flooding in late May

6 curtailed those plans. With flooding so severe, many insisted that Central New Brunswick be declared a disaster area. Fredericton, which had been designated the 1961 City of the Year by a Montreal magazine, was under water for days. As water began to recede, testing the functioning of the fountain began. By June 9, 1961, the fountain was operational. If an official unveiling had been held, the local newspaper was silent on the ceremony. Character-Defining Elements The character-defining elements associated with the Sir James Dunn Memorial Fountain: 2-tier marble fountain supported by the Three Graces Granite base inscribed with memorial to Sir James Dunn Association with Stowe Palace, Buckinghamshire, England Association with Sir James Dunn Tribute to the friendship between Lord Beaverbrook and Sir James Dunn

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