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 25 SAW Statue - Detroit (Read 8077 times)
Knute1
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SAW Statue - Detroit
Jan 3rd, 2020 at 1:55am
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I'm surprised the boys from Michigan haven't posted pictures of themselves with this rugged boy yet. He's at Belle Isle Park in Detroit. Rough looking feller.
  
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Baltimoreed
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Re: SAW Statue - Detroit
Reply #1 - Jan 3rd, 2020 at 1:55pm
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Never much cared for the slouch hat but I do like the way this trooper is sporting his. Neat.
  
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butlersrangers
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Re: SAW Statue - Detroit
Reply #2 - Jan 3rd, 2020 at 6:37pm
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Actually, the memorial on Belle Isle honors Detroit's Sailors, Marines, and Soldiers.
The soldier on the memorial was likely inspired by Detroit Light Guard & Detroit Light Infantry men, who served in the 31st Michigan Vol. Inf. during SAW conflict.

Other SAW Memorials in Michigan, that come to mind, are a captured Spanish cannon at Three Oaks, Michigan, and a mortar from the "Moro Castle" on the University of Michigan Campus.

BTW - Belle Isle was Detroit's 'Common' during the French and British Colonial Period.
British Lt. Governor, Henry Hamilton, assembled troops and militia on Belle Isle, before embarking on his campaign to the Wabash country. Resulting in Hamilton's defeat and surrender at Vincennes, to a force of Virginians, lead by George Rodgers Clark.

The old French name for the island was "Hog Island". The island was infested with Mississauga Rattlesnakes which were exterminated by free ranging Pigs.

Belle Isle Park has not returned to its early 1900's glory, but, it is enhanced by current State Park status and management.
  
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psteinmayer
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Re: SAW Statue - Detroit
Reply #3 - Jan 4th, 2020 at 1:51am
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Belle Isle was a frequent Sunday afternoon excursion in our family when I was young.  There is an excellent museum dedicated to shipping on the Great Lakes - The Dossin Great Lakes Museum, which I've always loved.  There is also a beautiful botanical garden and an excellent aquarium to boot.  Once upon a time, there was even a really good Zoo. 

There was a period of time in the 90's when the Island was starting to go to pot... so to speak, with lots of gang bangers taking over.  However, the island park has seen a resurgence in popularity recently and is going through some revitalizations and restorations (Dossin is going through a complete makeover).

Funny, I don't remember the memorial.  Guess this spring I'll have to venture out there and take a selfie with it!
  
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Knute1
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Re: SAW Statue - Detroit
Reply #4 - Jan 4th, 2020 at 3:45am
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Doing a little more research, this statue was designed by an American sculptor, Allen George Newman. The statue was called "The Hiker". Several cast bronze models were made at 9 foot, 7 foot and smaller. They can be found in many states. See the link below. And....there is one in Ypsilanti, Michigan! Anybody know somebody from there?  Wink It is at the intersection of Packard/Washtenaw and Forest Street.

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butlersrangers
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Re: SAW Statue - Detroit
Reply #5 - Jan 4th, 2020 at 5:41am
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Nothing with Krag Rifles is easy .... two statues, by different sculptors, both called "The Hiker"!

The one most of us are familiar with is by Theodora Alice Ruggles Kitson; it appears on the dust jacket of Franklin Mallory's book, "The Krag Rifle Story".

There are at least 50 Kitson 'The Hiker' statues across the country. The original from 1906 is at the University of Minnesota.
One stands at the entry way to Arlington National Cemetery.
Michigan has Kitson's 'Hiker' at Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids and at our Lansing Capitol grounds. There is a beautifully situated one at Lucas County Ohio.

The other, "The Hiker" is by Allen George Newman. The first full-size one was displayed in a temporary exhibit at the New York State Building in 1907.
There are at least 21 Newman 'Hiker' statues across the country.
The one on Detroit's Belle Isle was done in 1932. Newman also did the accompanying Sailor statue.

IMHO - Newman wins on 'realism', especially in the detail of his Krag rifle!
Newman also did a relief of the Hiker with the U.S.S. Maine in the background.
« Last Edit: Jan 4th, 2020 at 7:38am by butlersrangers »  
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psteinmayer
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Re: SAW Statue - Detroit
Reply #6 - Jan 7th, 2020 at 10:59pm
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Knute1 wrote on Jan 4th, 2020 at 3:45am:
And....there is one in Ypsilanti, Michigan! Anybody know somebody from there?  Wink It is at the intersection of Packard/Washtenaw and Forest Street.


Looks like I'm going for a drive!  I believe that's on the campus of Eastern Michigan University... or very close to it!
  
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butlersrangers
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Re: SAW Statue - Detroit
Reply #7 - Jan 7th, 2020 at 11:20pm
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Careful around that Ypsilanti "Water Tower" .... they should put a Fez, on that thing!
  
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Knute1
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Re: SAW Statue - Detroit
Reply #8 - Jan 8th, 2020 at 2:04am
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It might be interesting to see a readable picture of the plaque at the base of the statue in Ypsilanti.
  
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butlersrangers
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Re: SAW Statue - Detroit
Reply #9 - Jan 8th, 2020 at 4:08am
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Here you go 'Knute'.
  
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butlersrangers
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Re: SAW Statue - Detroit
Reply #10 - Jan 8th, 2020 at 4:33am
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OH .... I guess 'Knute' meant the "Hiker" statue.
  
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Knute1
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Re: SAW Statue - Detroit
Reply #11 - Jan 8th, 2020 at 11:32am
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That'll do!
  
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Whig
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Re: SAW Statue - Detroit
Reply #12 - Jan 8th, 2020 at 11:34am
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That  Ypsilanti "Water Tower" looks more like it needs a condom instead of a Fez.
  
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Baltimoreed
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Re: SAW Statue - Detroit
Reply #13 - Jan 8th, 2020 at 1:21pm
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Here’s what I’ve found on Wikipedia about ‘The Hiker’. There’s a bunch of them. Would love a shelf sized copy to go with my other Span Am memorabilia. Don’t know why it’s hard to read.
  
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butlersrangers
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Re: SAW Statue - Detroit
Reply #14 - Jan 8th, 2020 at 3:48pm
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I like both sculptures, but, prefer the 'rugged' Newman figure (and his 'gun handling') over the 'more youthful' Kitson rendering.

There must be a simple explanation as to why both sculptors used the same name, ("The Hiker"), on their work?

BTW - Newman had died, in February, 1940, prior to his Ypsilanti work's dedication in May, 1940.

At the 1940 Ypsilanti "Hiker" dedication, Members of all 12 Companies of the 31st Michigan Vol. Inf. Regiment were present, marking their 41st USWV - Reunion.

A young man, Grant Pierce, was dressed in his father's SAW uniform, (Walter C. Pierce - Musician), and assisted in the unveiling.

(A lot of the content of 'Speeches' at the Dedication, involved the danger of World events in 1940 and a desire to remain out of the foreign wars).

Ypsilanti's "Hiker" statue was deteriorating by the 1990's and underwent restoration in September, 2005, to stabilize it.

Ypsilanti, Michigan, is named after Greek General Demetrius Ypsilanti. The new Michigan village took the name in 1825, in admiration of a man fighting for Greece independence from the Turkish Empire.

Rather comically, a bust of General Ypsilanti sits in front of the 'phallic water tower', mercifully with his back toward it.
Across the street, "The Hiker" stands with a good view of the brick ... ummm ... structure.

Local legend has it that, when a "Virgin" graduates from Eastern Michigan University, the tower will collapse!

'Ypsilanti People' reflect a lot of Michigan Humor!
« Last Edit: Jan 8th, 2020 at 5:39pm by butlersrangers »  
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