| AUSTIN
- During the construction of the present Capitol, on March
28, 1883, Governor John Ireland approved an act passed by
legislature "to permit the State Firemen's Association
to erect a monument on the Capitol grounds." The law
required the monument to cost at least $5,000 and "that
the names of only those firemen who have lost their lives
in discharge of their duty as firemen shall have their names
engraved on said monument."
The Firemen's
Association did not erect the monument at the time, probably
because of the construction of the Capitol, and in February
1895 the legislature amended the 1883 act to provide for the
selection of a site for the monument. Jaeggli & Martin
of Brenham contracted to build the monument and Frank Teich
of San Antonio became the subcontractor for the project. Teich
cut the gray granite from his quarry near Llano in Llano County,
and polished the huge granite blocks in his workshop in San
Antonio. By May 1896, work had begun to erect the monument
on the Capitol grounds. By late June, the monument was nearly
completed, and the Firemen's Association was planning a dedication
ceremony. After completion of the monument on June 30, it
was "veiled" in sheeting and unveiled on the afternoon
of July 7, 1896 during a statewide meeting of the Firemen's
Association in Austin.
In place
of the bronze statue of a fireman holding a baby on the monument
today, the Firemen's Monument originally had a tall obelisk
(an upright four-sided usually monolithic pillar that that
gradually tapers as it rises and terminates in a pyramid)
topped by a granite statue of a firemen holding a large fire
hose. The obelisk and original granite statue were replaced
by the bronze statue, and the monument, rededicated in May
1905 at another statewide meeting of the Firemen's Association
in Austin. On the base of the sculpture is stamped "MFD
by W.H. Mullins, Salem, Ohio, J. Segesman, Sculptor.
According
to newspaper articles from the Austin Daily Statesman, dated
July 7, 1896..."the firemen will with much pomp and glory
unveil the monument in the Capitol grounds which has been
constructed under the personal supervision of the foremen's
committee. These ceremonies will be most imposing in every
particular, and a chorus of 600 voices accompanied by a brass
band and under the leadership of Professor Besserer will render
some appropriate music. 106 fire companies were represented."
In another
article dated July 8, 1896..."The firemen's monument,
which was unveiled and presented to the firemen yesterday,
in conception, material and design is certainly an admirable
work of art. It is of gray granite, 50 feet 2 inches in height,
and stands on a pedestal composed of four bases, the first
base being 12 feet square, the second 9 feet square, the third
7x6, and fourth base 6x6, the four bases together forming
a pedestal about 6 feet 6 inches in height. On the third section
of the base on the east side is engraved, "Erected by
the State Firemen's Association of Texas," and on the
west side is the figure "1896." On a cap above the
inscriptions, there are on the four sides engraved, a hose
carriage, engine, hook and ladder and crossed trumpets."
To
add names of fallen firefighters in the line of duty, contact
the State Preservation Board in writing of the request. The
SPB then notifies the SFFMA requesting an examination of the
case. Based upon findings of the Association, the request
is either approved or denied. The cost of adding names is
paid by the requesting fire department.
State
Preservation Board
P. O. Box 13286
Austin, Texas 78711-3286
(512) 463-5495 (512) 475-3366 (Fax)
For
a list of firemen who have lost their lives
in discharge of their duty as firemen click
here.
Other
related links:
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