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What's a girl like you doing on a Capitol like this?
by Brewster Hudspeth Book
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| | The
Goddess up close
Photo Courtesy TxDoT |
The
statue that sits atop the Capitol
in Austin is something of a mystery. Her name, origin
and even the material she's made of have been debated for years. No one can say
with certainty if she is a Goddess of Wisdom, Justice, Victory - or even if she
is a “Goddess” at all. No woman ever stepped forward to claim posing for the statue
and when the statue is observed up close - it become very clear. The "strong"
features were intentionally exaggerated to make her appear "normal" when viewed
from below. She's quite startling when viewed up close.
Over the years
there have been several men who have claimed that a female ancestor of theirs
had the honor of posing. (No woman has made such a claim.) |
Goddess
of Liberty in front of the Texas
State Capitol
Vintage Photo Courtesy Texas State Library And Archives |
The
Drunken Ride of Tom the Stonemason
While
the Capitol was still under
construction, a stonecutter named Tom Vorshardt claimed it was his wife's face
that was cast. Tom was said to be related to the partners that had cast the statue;
so it wasn't outside the realm of possibility. Several controversies were swirling
around the building during this time. Things like using free convict labor and
the importing of skilled Scottish stonemasons. Tom wasn't a convict or Scottish.
He would've, however, become a Scottish convict - if it meant a job. What Tom
was - was unemployed. When he couldn't get hired he got mad and then set out to
get even. One night, mounting his reluctant steed, Tom rode off to steal the statue.
That would show them!
While he might have been a crackerjack stonemason,
Tom wasn't very good with physics. He managed to tie a noose around the statue’s
neck and then tie the other end of his rope to his saddle horn. He then rode off
on a trip that lasted exactly as long as his rope. Tom was still spitting out
Capitol lawn when the police
arrived and arrested him for riding under the influence, attempting to steal a
goddess and using vile language against convicts and Scots. Tom produced a photo
of his wife to prove his claim. This didn’t explain why he tried to steal the
statue or what he’d planned to do with it. Surely Austin
pawnbrokers would be notified. A resemblance between his wife and the statue was
noted and the police sympathized with him all the way to headquarters. One of
the wags (who always seem to be on hand for incidents like this) stated "the goddess
was prettier.”
A Very Tall Tale
Another
Austin legend has it that one dark and stormy night
the goddess somehow became dislodged. She lost her balance and was hanging on
to the dome by one lone bolt – and a rusty one at that. This fanciful story has
her being rescued by firemen, fraternity brothers from UT and just plain patriotic
Austinites that just happened to be in the neighborhood. Republicans and Democrats
were united in a common effort to save the damsel in distress. They climbed upward
into the black night, fighting wind, lightning and golf balls the size of hailstones
to secure the robed statue. Or should that be hailstones the size of golf balls?
Anyway, there's not a lick of truth to it. Especially the part about Republicans
and Democrats working together.
Her origin has been suggested as Belgium,
France, Spain or Chicago. It seems a foreign birthplace might explain that face.
Another legend says that an older sister lies in a watery grave at the bottom
of the Atlantic Ocean. This one, the legend says, is an insurance company replacement
sent a year later. Who knows?
Some assembly required?
Some
say that the statue was cast right there on the Capitol
grounds, while others say she arrived in pieces and was assembled on site. Another
source says she arrived in one piece on a specially built wagon - and there may
be a photo proving that story.
Austin
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| | The
only known miniature statue.
Courtesy Harold Bell and Family |
The
Late Harold Bell of
Decatur, Texas
was observant enough to recognize a miniature of the statue at a Wise County foundry
a few years ago. He bought it and took it home - where it sits in a place of honor.
Originally the miniature statues were to be mass produced and sold to patriotic
Texans. There is little doubt that the 14-inch casting is related to the original,
although on this one the facial features have been softened somewhat - so as not
to frighten children.
Austin
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| | The
attempt at reinstallation in the mid 1980s).
Photo courtesy TxDoT |
Bee-stung
lips?
A
restoration of the Capitol
in the mid-1980s cleared up at least one point concerning the statue. It was finally
determined that she was zinc. Other discoveries revealed her head had once held
a hive of bees with her generous nostrils providing entrance and egress. Another
discovery was a still-readable 1888 newspaper.
After sandblasting, primer
and paint, the goddess was ready to ascend back to her beautiful perch - not an
easy project. The National Guard Sikorsky Skycrane that had taken her down was
supposed to put her back in place - but the last phase was much more difficult
than the first. High winds extended the 20-minute operation to multiple tries
over the next three days. Austinites held their breath and the drama saturated
local news. Just ask any Austinite where they were "the day the goddess returned."
Chances are, they'll answer: "Goddess? What Goddess?"
Austin
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©
John Troesser
Bibliography:
Article:
The Capitol’s Lady by Audray Bateman, The Texas Folklore Society ed. By Francis
Edward Abernethy, E-heart Press, 1981
Interview
with Harold Bell, Decatur, Texas, January 2003
Texas
Highways Magazine
More
Texas Monuments &
Statues
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