Society Snippets: Partisan Monument Part 3

1902 Jan 1 The State

In this article we find that a dinner in honor of the noted sculptor F. Wellington Ruckstuhl of New York was given.  Ruckstuhl designed the Women’s monument and was in Columbia for supervising its placement.  While in Columbia, Mrs. Robertson held a reception at her studio.  Mr. Ruckstuhl was in attendance.  It goes on to say once the Women’s monument is unveiled that she would consult with Ruckstuhl about the plans for the partisan monument.

You will see the Ruckstuhl will become a prominent figure as the monument moves forward.   This relationship seems to have begun at the reception she held at her studio.

1902 Feb 2 The State

At some point, the Columbia chapter applied to the state house commission for the commission to give to the SCDAR the unused column for the purpose of constructing the partisan monument on the grounds of the state house.  Once a monument representing the American Revolution was complete, all wars would be represented as there were already monuments to the Confederate and Mexican war soldiers.  As it goes with red tape, the commission responded that they had no authority to give the column and had referred the matter to the state legislature.  During the interim, the column was broken; therefore, the bill asked for a part of the column.  There was a senator (which was named as part of this article) that was interested in the matter.  It was hoped that he would be able to get the bill passed without objection.

1902 Annual Report of the State Regent presented at the 11^th Continental Congress

The Columbia Chapter is working to erect a granite monument to the Revolutionary heroes of South Carolina on the capitol grounds.  A bill has just been passed by our legislature, giving us one of the handsome columns left over from the state house. 

 1902 March “American Monthly Magazine”

As part of Sara Richardson’s State Regent report, she stated the following concerning the Partisan Monument, “The monument to be erected by the Daughters of the American Revolution of South is the chief work before us.  It is to perpetuate the services of our partisan generals, Sumter, Marion, and Pickens and the soldiers who perished during the struggle for Independence.”  She would also say, “When erected, it will be a monument worthy of the heroes, the state, and the name of our society,”

The Partisan Monument committee reported to the joint assembly the action of the state conference and expressed thanks for the gift from the state.

1902 Apr 6 The State

During the monthly meeting of the Columbia Chapter, the monument was discussed.  The wording concerning the monument is as follows “the weighty matters of monument.”   Initially, the monument was to be made from one of the broken columns that were to be used at the State House.  The drawing was made by Mr. Unkefer with the projected cost of $100 for its completion.  Had it not been for the use of the broken column, the estimated cost would have four or five times more.  State Regent Sara Richardson would call upon the chapters of the state to assist in the work and for their opinions as to the inscriptions for the monument.

1902 Oct 30 The State

During the 1902 state conference held in the Senate Chambers of the SC State House, Mrs. Robertson, chairman of the “monumental fund,” gave a report.  Last spring, the representatives obtained for the SCDAR one of the pieces of broken columns left over from the portico of the State House at an estimated worth of $1,200.  The column had to have a strong foundation as well as a base and a capital.  It was hoped to have the contractor of the State House put up the column at a lesser fee while he and his employees were still at work on the State House; however, arrangements could not be made.

She presented to the delegation designs for the monument as well as estimates for the cost.   She then reported that the Secretary of State will allow the SCDAR to mount the statue of Washington now on the grounds on our column and that if the SCDAR did not accept this offer anything added to the submitted designs will be an extra cost.

1902 December “American Monthly Magazine”

In the state conference report, Sara Richardson reported that the monument was the work assumed by the Daughters until completed.  The Corinthian column that was donated was valued at $1800 and the work to complete it would be $1200.

SC Secretary of State Gannt aided the DAR greatly in getting the native granite donated to the SCDAR.  

It would be another two years before mention about the monument can be found.  This is because the SCDAR dropped their efforts for the Partisan Monument to focus their efforts on the construction of Memorial Continental Hall.  All efforts would then be made toward the construction of our beautiful building.