Hermann breathes new life

By KEVIN SWEENEY

Journal Editor

NEW ULM -- It took three months, but Conservation Solutions has undone a century's worth of damage to the Hermann Monument.

The crew from the Washington, D.C. preservation firm finished up work this week, putting the finishing touches on the 32-foot copper sheath statue of the Cheruscan warrior which has stood overlooking New Ulm for the past 100 years or so.

The crew repaired and patched bullet holes, strengthened and reinforced the inner skeleton, replaced worn-out and rusted-out parts and restored features that have been missing for many years.

The most obvious missing feature is the wing from Hermann's Helmet, which blew off in a windstorm in July 1998. The wing is now back in place, and both wings are reinforced so they'll stay put.

Hermann also has a new right foot, crafted out of copper after the structural framework in his right leg had rusted away and the foot became too badly corroded to fix.

Steve Servis, project manager for the Hermann restoration, said the biggest problem area was Hermann's right shoulder. The iron piping that makes up the interior framework had snapped at the shoulder, where Hermann's sword points into the air. The arm had sagged forward, ripping some of the copper seams. The sagging made the statue about half a foot shorter than it was originally.

Servis said the arm was removed and repaired in a ground-level shop at the monument site, while the framework was repaired and an extra connection was made to strengthen the shoulder and the arm. Another piece of framework was added from his shoulder across his chest, and down his left side to the base. Servis said this has helped stabilize the statue overall.

The base around Hermann's feet was also restored to its original design and dimensions. It had been widened some time ago to give workmen a better platform, but it cut off view of the statue from the observation platform below.

The Roman helmet and shield on which Hermann rests his left foot in a victorious pose were also rebuilt, by John Saunders, a sculptor and part time instructor at Yale.

The Conservation Solutions crew included Seth Knight, Ashley Gray, Jake Amoroso, John Saunders, Vince Rossi, and Servis. Mark Rabinowitz is the head conservator for the company, who planned the restoration.

Some of the reconstruction was done by outside contractors. Hermann's right foot was built by Gene Olson of Elk River, who also recreated the laurel wreath around Hermann's head. And the ball on the bottom of Hermann's sword was a gift from coppersmith "Copper" Billy MacRae.

MacRae creates vases and other copper items, and just happened to be working in town when the crew wondered where it would find a ball to fit on the bottom of Hermann's sword hilt.

The ball was seen in early photos, but hasn't been on the sword for years. Servis figures the ball filled with water early on, which froze in the winters and caused the ball to fall off.

Denny Warta, a member of the Hermann Commission, mentioned MacRae to the crew, and he had a round vase that fit just fine and was easily adapted, with a drain hole in the bottom to prevent the water problem in the future.

Saunders has also created a special feature, a copper heart that will be placed inside the chest of the statue. It will read, "Hermann, 9 A.D., A Freedom Fighter, Born Again in New Ulm, Minnesota USA, 2004.

The heart will be filled with signatures of people who wish to make a $10 donation, and it will also contain a vial of soil and sand sent from the site where the battle of the Teutoberg Forest is believed to have taken place in 9 A.D.

Anyone who wishes to have their signature included in the heart can leave their signature and donation at any New Ulm bank, or mail it to City Hall, P. O. Box 636: New Ulm, MN 56073. Make checks payable to NU Hermann. The deadline for signatures is Oct. 20. On Oct 21, the signatures will be placed in the heart in a ceremony at Turner Hall.

The scaffolding that surrounds the monument will be taken down starting on Wednesday, and should be gone by next Saturday. The city hopes to have the statue back on top of the monument sometime before the end of the month. The day Hermann is lifted back into place will depend upon the wind. The job will require a fairly calm, wind-free day.