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Home My WebLink AboutPR 13009:RELOCATE BRONZE STATUEinteroffice MEMORANDUM To: From: Date: Subject: the bronze Manaqer). MTS:ts Attachment CC: Mayor, City Council, City Manager Mark T. Sokolow, City Attorney ~~ January 27, 2005 P. R. No. 13009; Council Meeting of February 1, 2005 At~ached is P. R. No. 13009 approving ~he relocation of sEanuary, "Music of the Sea". CRequested by the City VIA FACSIMILE (409) 984-6032 Sam Monroe President I2~qAR STATE COLLEGE-PORT ARTHUR P. O. Box 310 Port Arthur, TX 77641-031E Yvonne Sutherl±n 2048 Oak Avenue Poru Arthur, TX ~7642-2750 z.prl3OO9.memo P.R. No. 13009 01/27/05 ts RESOLUTION NO. A ~ESOLUTION APPROVING THE P~ELOCATION OF THE ~MUSIC OF THE SEA" STATUARY (REQUESTED BY THE CITY MANAGER) College-Port Arthur has will replace the 300 proposed block of WHEREAS, Lamar State a pedestrian mall that stilwell Boulevard; and WHEREAS, Lamar State College-Port Arthur is requesting the bronze "Music of the Sea" statuary that is currently located in the reflecting pool in the park adjacent to the sub-county Court House be moved to the proposed pedestrian mall, as delineated in Exhibit ~A"; and WHEREAS, Lamar State College-Port Arthur proposes place nhe statuary in a prommnenn location, as denoted mn the map attached as Exhibit "B#; WHEREAS, Yvonne Sutherlin information thereon as described ~C"; and WHEREAS, it is deemed in and has provided historical in the attached Exhibit the best interests of the bronz~ the citizens to authorize the relocation of statuary. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR: z.prl3009 Section 1. That the preamble are true and correct. facts and opinions in the Section 2. That the City's bronze ~Music of the Sea" statuary be moved at the expense of Lamar State College of Port Arthur to the proposed pedessrian mall which will be located at the 300 block of stilwell Boulevard, as described in the letter from Lamar State College-Port Arthur; and as described in the map, attached as Exhibit "B". Section 3. That the location of this s~a~uary will accent its beauty for all of the citizens to view and appreciate. Section 4. That Lamar College-Port Arthur will place and maintain such signage as to honor Mayor Charles Eugene Smith and will take such steps as to maintain the statuary. Section 5. That a copy of the capElon of the Resolution be spread upon the Minutes of the City Council. R~AD, ADOPTED AND APPROVED on this day of , A.D. 2005, at a Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Port Arthur, Texas by the following vote: AYES: Mayor City Council z.prl3009 NOES: ATTEST= OSCAR ORTIZ, MAYOR EVAiqGELINE GREEN, CITY SECRETARY APPROVED AS TO FOI~M: MARK T. SOKOLOW, CITY ATTORNEY APPROVED FOR ADMINISTRATION: STEPHEN FITZGIBBONS, CITY MANAGER z,pr13009 Exhibit "A" Lamar State College - Port Arthur January 18, 2005 Mr. Steve Fitzgibbons City Manager City of Port Arthur P. O. Box 1089 Port Arthur. TX 77641 Dear Steve: As we discussed. Lee Moore our campus planner has been designing a pedestrian mall that will replace the 300 block of Stilwell Boulevard. (See the attached map.) This project was made possible, as you will recall, by action of the City Council on October 12, 2004 when they donated the right- of-way. This letter is written to request the bronze mermaid in th6 park adjacent to the sub courthouse featured in the reflecting pool. As you can see from the Preliminary Design, this statuary would be placed in a prominent location and would further carry out the historical theme of the new Stilwell Plaza, should you agree to its relocation. This will become the heart of the campus and will feature lighting, landscaping, statuary and walkways facilitating student movement to Woodrow Wilson and Gates Library. This project was approved by The Texas State University System Board of Regents on November 19, 2004, and is on the agenda for authorization to seek bids on February 18. If you have questions or require additional information, please let me know. Sincerely yours, Sam Monroe Presidenl WSM/clw Enclosure O/Ore o[ the President EO. Box 310 · Port Arthur. l'exas 77641-0310 Phone 409-984-6100 ' 800-477-5872 ' Fax 409-984-6032 E-mail SamMonroe pslamarpa.edu EXHIBIT ~B" z.prl3009 EXHIBIT ~C" z.prl3009 'MUSIC OF THE SEA' MEMORIAL Courthouse Park This artistic and beautiful little fountain, now located in the east end of the water pond in the Jefferson County Sub-Courthouse park, was presented to the City of Port Arthur in 1940 by Edith Smith Norton (Mrs. Charles R.) in memory of her father, Port Arthur's first mayor, 1899-1901, Charles Eugene Smith. The inscription reads: "To have lived in the hearts of those we love is not to die;" quotation from 'Hallowed Ground' by Thomas Campbell. The monument was originally placed at the intersection of Lakeshore and Rue de Soldats Drives, just in front of the courthouse and it was a beautiful sight as shown in this photo. "Music of the Sea," the design of the statue atop the memorial fountain, led to its creator, Henry Hudson Kitson, receiving a commission from Queen Elizabeth of Rumania to make portrait busts of the king and queen. The construction of the present Hurricane Protection System required that the fountain be relocated. The County/City cooperated in the project. Dowling Street between the courthonse and the park was closed, and the water pond was constructed. The'Music of the Sea" was moved. The fountain does not flow, nor do the lights illuminate the statuary, but none of us are too busy to ahvays hear the 'Music of the Sea" as we stop and reflect at this beautiful statue. Mrs. Norton subsequently also willed the City $50,000 and the Norton Health Clinic was built adjacent to City Hall in 1946 with these monies. The clinic was demolished in the Urban Renewal project in 1968. ys 1997 2048 Oak Avenue Port Arthur, Texas 77642-2750 (409) 982-4088 MNTJ26A @prodig3,.com Legal and Historical Research I. FOI~TAIN - "Music of the Sea" b~ H. H. Kitson - Pa~ish lodated on Lakeshore Drive Presemted by Edith Sm/th Norton in memory of her father, Port Arthur's first mayor, 1899-1901, Mm. Charles Eugene Smith, in 19~0. Inscription: "To have lived in the hearts of those we love is not to die., II. $50,000 w~_JLled to the city by ~s. Norton; W~ prObated Au~., 19~?; Accepted by the city Oct. ~, 19~5~ Used for the establishment of NORTON CLINIC Modern Memorial to Hardy Pioneer of 50 Years Agog. -2' · fy' ' · C I ¥, {f , . r :$5000 FOuntain To Honor P~t~f~o Of Ear y · . · . ·go ,..,. : 'SDar, Chafl~s E. Daug MEMORIAL FOUNTAIN '" IS OFFERED TO CITY Gift CoSting $2000 To $3000 From Mrs. Edith Norton Of Los Angeles. Would Horror Her Father, Early Mayor Legal technicalities permittmg, Port Arthur 19 to have a $3000 drink* City commission Monday night recelvec~ a written offer from Edith d/mate $20~0 or $3000 toward erec- father, the late Charles Eugene S~nith, mayor of Port Arthur in i~ ' ~pre~sin~ their appreciation for the offer, commission ~ked City bio. and ~ked ~. D. Gates city [ion by ~ranue county farmers for e~blishment of a farm produce ~ ~o'nsur, . ~' ' ' -~,~ccepted ~ audt~ ~y McCuire, ~tgned' a city depoM~ con- PAGE THIRTY-TWO CITY'S FOUNTAIN MAY GET BATH AND REPAIRS Port Arthur's only artistic statue~and one of the few in the CRy may get a free cleaning. Bob Hooker president of the 20-30 club. wrote m~Y commiS- stun Wednesday the club would clean and polish the "Music ~f the Sea" statue located on Lakeshore frivp near Pleasure pier bridge, if the city would make needed etecfrical and plumb- iug repairs. Commissioner Bill Hall said ~c sounded like a pretty good deal, adding: "I wonder ff the>, will make the repaws. If they will. we'll clean it.' The mar[er was referred to a future work session The statue was g~ven co the city of Port Arthur by Mrs. Edith Smith Norton m memory of her father. Charles Eugene Smith who was mayor of Porl Arthur between 1899 and 1901. The statue of a cherub listening to the ocean muur/1Hrs" of a sea shell also includes a water spray sysmm illuminated by multi-colored lighPs. The watering and Iightmg systems how- The young lad. it was reported hasn't had a 'good bath' Noteworthy is the r*eollection that the city of Port Arthur obligated itself to keep the fountain /n "working orfler" when it accepted the gift 22 years ago.