Berghold memorial recognizes

accomplishments of pioneer priest

By CHANCE PRIGGE

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- Plans are in the works for erecting a statue and restoring Loretto Park to memorialize Father Alexander Berghold's accomplishments in New Ulm.

"It would give the public an awareness of what this missionary priest did," Planning Committee member Calverna Wilfahrt said.

Artist Paul Rieffer is creating the sculpture of Berghold. He brought a 1-foot representation of it to the New Ulm Diocese Monday.

"Right now this is kind of a preliminary general pose," Rieffer said.

The statue portrays Berghold with his arms extended and open at chest height. In his left hand he holds the scriptures, while his right hand is open.

Rieffer said the pose is a combination of two different photos that overall conveys Berghold's inviting nature.

The statue was brought in to show committee members where it is and to get feedback on where to go with it.

Some members said they want it to capture the relaxed and compassionate feelings Berghold exuded and was known for as opposed to imitating the sternness that came from old-time photography.

Verna said the memorial is "overdue" for somebody who's done so much for the area.

"He ranks up there with the great pioneer priests," Wilfahrt said.

The statue, committee members said, will be placed at the peak of the park so it can overlook the places Berghold founded as well as their later incarnations. It will likely be made of bronze and somewhere around 7 feet, though plans aren't definite.

Committee members considered creating smaller, limited-edition duplications or busts of the statue to sell as fund-raisers.

The statue, though, is only the first in a three-phase operation to restore Loretto Park, which is near the Way of Cross, to honor Berghold and two orders of nuns, Sisters of Christian Charity and Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ.

The large bell from the St. Alexander Hospital and Home for the Aged -- which Berghold founded and eventually evolved into New Ulm Medical Center and Oak Hills Living Center -- will be installed in the park during Phase II.

The sisters will be honored in granite plaques for Phase III.

In addition to the statue's installation, Phase I includes restoration of the park's walkways, gardens and hillside.

The committee hopes to have the projects completed by 2004, which is when the Way of the Cross celebrates its 100th anniversary and New Ulm celebrates its 150th.

Berghold came to New Ulm in 1868, and, in his 21 years here, he founded Holy Trinity parish as well as St. Michael's Academy, which preceded New Ulm Area Catholic Schools, and helped New Ulm recover after an 1881 tornado, among other accomplishments. He died in 1918.