background courtesy of:
In 1938 the newly formed Womens' Club of Ashland pledged its support. Work had already begun by the borough workmen on the steps, rotunda, walls and platform. By April the borough recieved full approval for WPA work and plans progressed with 17 workers lending their skills.
The Mothers Memorial, honoring all Ashland mothers past and present, is a bronze replica of Whistler's famous painting and stands calmly majestic between Chesnut and Market Streets on North Hoffman Boulevard at North Hoffman Boulevard and North 3rd Street. Inscribed in the granite are the words , "A mother is the Holiest thing alive," a thought from Coleridge's famous poem "The Mother", and fittingly proper for such a masterpiece. This is the first instance in history where a famous painting has been depicted in bronze.
When first placed, the base of Main granite, weighing three tons, was set in reverse on the rotunda and had to be turned. The eight foot satute, weighing 1260 pounds was then mounted Sept. 1, 1938 veiled from the public and was the main part of sermon themes, Sunday, Sept. 3 when special services were held in in all Ashland churches honoring the memorial. It was dedicated Labor Day, Sept. 4, 1938 at a commemorative service unveiled by two of Ashland's oldest mothers, 91 and 88 years of age and was admired by a crowd of 2500 persons who had come to witness the ceremony.
Inscription: "This is a reproduction in bronze of Whistler's famous painting. It honors all mothers, past and present, and is the only one of its kind in the country. Erected by the Ashland Boys Association and dedicated on September 4, 1938".
Designer: Emil Siebern
Sculptor: Julius C. Loester
(compiled from various articles by webmaster, 1999)
Get your own Free Home Page