Old Ish‘ statue has curious origins ‘Old Ish‘ statue has curious origins He has stood silent as generations go off to war. He has had a cameo appearance in one of the most popular films of the 1950s. He has been victimized, vandalized and disarmed. Ishpeming’s Old Ish has been a loyal guardian for more than 115 years and his story, like the far-off look in his eye, is mysterious. Perched atop an iron pedestal, Old Ish stands near the corner of Main Street and Cleveland Avenue in downtown Ishpeming, located between Peninsula Bank and Iron Range Insurance Agency. The base stands eight feet tall and the warrior measures six feet in height. When it was first erected, Old Ish also was a fountain and, according to the plaque affixed to the base, offered separate drinking receptacles for “humans, horses and dogs.” The fountain was a much-needed amenity for the City of Ishpeming in the late 1880s. “The need [for] a fountain has been felt for some time, as there is no public drinking place in the city—that is, where nature’s beverage can be had by all,” proclaimed the Daily Mining Journal in the fall of 1888. “In addition to its utility, it will be an ornament to the square. Its cost is nearly one thousand dollars, and it is well worth the price.” C.H. Hall, president of Ishpeming’s water board and an agent for Lake Superior Iron Company, was the person responsible for bringing Old Ish to the town square. Whether or not he was the person who actually purchased the statue, however, is not clear. Two different versions of Old Ish’s origin exist. The first version states that Hall, who helped lay the plans for the city’s water system, did not want payment for his work. Instead, he used the money to purchase the statue and presented it as a gift to the city. The second account says that the City of Ishpeming presented Old Ish to Hall as a token of esteem for his efforts on behalf of the city. Since the statue was too large to be placed in Hall’s home or yard, he offered it to the city to be placed in the town square. Despite the differing stories, both the Daily Mining Journal and the Ishpeming Iron Ore describe the fountain as “a present to the city from Mr. C.H. Hall.” A letter from Hall’s grandson, Edward B. Hall, written in the 1960s echoes that fact. “It was always my understanding that this statue was given to the city by my grandfather, C.H. Hall…,” the letter read. The letter goes on to explain the reasons behind C.H. Hall’s decision, with Edward B. Hall acknowledging that his memories were almost seventy years old at the time and based on hearsay. “Grandfather was prompted, according to my best recollection of what I was told, to give this fountain to the city in these circumstances: the French-Canadian Catholic Church, then a flourishing organization…with the finest church building in town, held some kind of a carnival lasting some days, presumably for fundraising,” Edward Hall wrote. “One of the attractions was an opportunity to vote for the most popular man in Ishpeming. C.H. Hall got the most votes, and was presented with a gold headed cane…and a cash award. This money he applied toward the erection of watering troughs, adorned with the iron Indian. Perhaps he was expected to give the money to the church, but Grandfather’s allegiance was to the Presbyterian Church and for some reason, possibly the broad participation of the voting, it seemed to him more fitting to use it for the benefit of the whole community.” Pieces of the fountain began arriving in Ishpeming by freight from the Straits of Mackinac in late November 1888. On December 1, the Daily Mining Journal described the fountain as “dandy.” On January 1, 1889, the Ishpeming Iron Ore described the new addition to the city. “A public fountain, the gift of Mr. C.H. Hall, adorns the public square,” the article read. “The figure represents an Indian chieftain—supposed to be old Ishpeming himself—standing on an eminence gazing into the land of the setting sun. In one hand he grasps a bow while the other holds an arrow. It is a fine piece of work, the material being of iron, appropriate for the place. It is fourteen feet in height, containing water receptacles for man and beast.” For the city, a statue of an Indian chieftain was an ironic choice. According to a Mining Journal article from 1954, early settlers reported that there were very few Indians in the area that is now Ishpeming. Most Indians believed that what is now Lake Bancroft was bewitched because of the high bluff, sometimes referred to as Pilot’s Knob, on the north side of the lake. According to the settlers, the majority of the early Indians believed the bluff to be an evil omen and preferred to live in other areas of the Upper Peninsula. There is no available information that explains when the Indian was dubbed “Old Ish” or why. In a 1939 Mining Journal article, he still is referred to as “the Indian in the square.” And, in the 1960s letter written by Edward Hall (who had not returned to Ishpeming in twenty-five years), he states, “Until now I had never heard the figure called ‘Old Ish.’” Old Ish has had his share of problems during his reign as Ishpeming’s silent warrior. Throughout the years, he had been defaced with paint and grease, but one of the most severe cases of vandalism occurred in June 1963. Old Ish was “yanked from his stand by some unknown party or parties and smashed so badly that he may be beyond repair,” the Mining Journal reported. He was “found lying on the street, minus his head.” His bow and arrow were recovered a short time later from under a booth at a local tavern. Police arrested Joseph E. Catanzarite, 21, an airman stationed at K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base, who admitted to the vandalism. Within days, Ishpeming Mayor Theodore Mattson and the city council received a letter of apology from Colonel R.W. Davania, commander of the Sault Ste Marie Air Defense Sector and Colonel John M. Konosky, commander of the fifty-sixth Fighter Wing. In part, it read: “You may be certain that the wanton and destructive act of overturning the statue is both repugnant and humiliating to the military personnel stationed at K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base. “We are not unmindful of the historical pride and affection with which the landmark was regarded in the community of Ishpeming, and realize fully the extent of loss occasioned by the act. It is therefore, with great sincerity that we, representing the military personnel at the base, tender our deep regrets and apologies for the acts of this airman.” Despite the apology, the damage to Old Ish had been done. The City of Ishpeming, Cleveland-Cliffs Iron Company and Lake Shore, Inc. all offered services in an effort to restore the statue. The Mining Journal did not have high hopes that Old Ish could be saved. “Chances for restoration are slim, however, as the metal has been crystallizing to such an extent that the job may be impossible.” The biggest problem facing the restoration process was the fact that the head had been smashed and the pieces needed to be put back together. But, thanks to the efforts of Roy Bennett, a retired CCI metal worker, a new Ish was created. Bennett started with a container of pieces and worked several weeks to reconstruct the statue’s head. It was then removed from his garage and taken to the city warehouse, where it was repainted by Edward Luoma of the Luoma Sign Company. Old Ish also received a new arrow, feathers and fingers (which had been broken off years earlier). In August 1963, a fully restored Old Ish was unveiled. All residents of Marquette County, including personnel from K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base, were invited to a special ceremony that kicked off Old Ish Days, an event organized by Ishpeming Chamber of Commerce’s Retail Division. It was designed to recreate the celebration that was held when Old Ish was placed in the square in 1888. Old Ish once again stood proudly. But, two years after the extensive restoration, the town was surprised to learn that Old Ish was not alone. For nearly eighty years, the Indian in the square had been keeping a secret from the citizens of Ishpeming: he had a band of brothers. In a September 22, 1966 article, the Chicago Tribune discussed a booklet produced by Marion Gridley, editor and publisher of The Amerindian, an American Indian review. The book offered photographs of more than 100 Indian statues in thirty-six states, the District of Columbia, Canada and Tours (France). One photograph in particular looked very familiar to the citizens of Ishpeming. “Certainly one of the most unusual of all the [statues] shown is that of Chief Hopocan,” the Tribune said. “Miss Gridley says that nothing is known about the statue itself other than the fact that identical ones may be found in Akron, Cincinnati and Lodi (Ohio); Schenectady, (New York); Calhoun (Georgia) and Ishpeming (Michigan).” The revelation prompted the Mining Journal to investigate. During the next ten years, using research from Oliver Knapp of Mount Kisco (New York) and others, Old Ish’s family was uncovered. In Mount Kisco and His Brothers, published by the Mount Kisco Historical Committee in 1980, Knapp reveals that the “Indian Chief” stands in at least seventeen known locations in the United States and one in Peru. “Described by art historians as being among the finest examples of early American folk art, these colorful statues model the most popular and widely traveled of any of the Indian show figures made in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries,” Knapp wrote. Knapp also said that a version of the statue appeared in the 1876 Centennial in Philadelphia, the 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago and the 1884-1885 Cotton Exposition in New Orleans, where it won two awards. It also received a gold medal at the Paris Exposition in 1890. Knapp’s research discovered three wooden statues, which stand in Winterthur (Delaware), Detroit and York (Maine). The metal statues, which more closely resemble Old Ish, have been erected in Mount Kisco (New York), Cincinnati (Ohio), Akron (Ohio), Barberton (Ohio), Lodi (Ohio), Battle Creek (Michigan), the American Brands Building in New York City, Schenectady (New York), Ishpeming, Silver Springs (Maryland), Calhoun (Georgia), Sandwich (Massachusetts), Sharpsburg (Pennsylvania), Tilton (New Hampshire) and Cuzco (Peru). The statue was produced by the J.L. Mott Iron Works in New York and was depicted in the company’s catalog as early as 1873. A group of men cleaning out the vault in the Ishpeming Department of Public Works found an 1893 Mott catalog, presumed to be the one from which Old Ish was ordered. He was featured on Page 13. According to Knapp, Jordan Mott, the founder of the iron company, was an inventor and had been given full credit for inventing the coal-burning stove. Throughout the latter years of the twentieth century, Old Ish led a fairly quiet existence. He underwent restorations in 1978 and 1986 and was dedicated formally in 1993. At that ceremony, a plaque was presented to him as part of the Marquette County Historical Society’s program of recognizing historic places. In 2003, the park over which Old Ish stands guard was redesigned as part of a $30,000 project. The Front Street entrance from Main Street was eliminated and a new courtyard constructed. Later, a large evergreen was planted behind him which serves as the city’s permanent Christmas tree. The iron Indian in the square has served as an icon for the city of Ishpeming and has stood strong in three centuries. He has been seen by generations as the constant symbol of courage, strength and pride. In an excerpt from “A Tribute to Old Ish,” Ishpeming citizen Jan Boase wrote: But more important to “Old Ish” Than the stars of any show, Are the people of our own great town, Who came back to say “Hello.” I think if “Old Ish” could speak to us, He’d just add two words to this poem, He’d slowly turn, extend his arms, And then say “Welcome Home.”
Posted on: Sun, 05 Oct 2014 00:13:12 +0000
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