Friday, February 11, 2000
Kids help raise renovation cash
'It shows we care about our community,' one student says
BY ALLEN HOWARD
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Black History Month has taken on a special meaning for students at South Avondale Elementary School in Avondale.
The students are conducting a penny drive to raise money to restore the Lincoln and Liberty Monument, near the school.
“I think it is a good project for us during Black History Month because of what President Lincoln did to free the slaves,” said Cory Lang, 11, a sixth-grader. “It will be neat to restore it and it will be something we can use in class.”
Chela Burroughs, 13, a seventh-grader, thinks restoring the monument is a great community project.
“This is a great project for us because it shows we care about our community,” Chela said.
South Avondale School Principal Cathy Lutts said the students started collecting pennies Monday. She said the drive will run through March 24.
“One room turned in $46 already,” Ms. Lutts said. “Some of the children are giving up part of their lunch money to donate to the drive. This is a great way for all ages of children at South Avondale to be involved,” she said. The school has pre-kindergarten through seventh-grade students.
The monument is located at the corner of Reading Road and Forest Avenue on the school grounds.
The Cincinnati Preservation Association (CPA) and Leadership Cincinnati Class XXIII are restoring the monument.
Beth Sullebarger, executive director of CPA, said the restoration will will cost $70,000.
“The statues are corroded and the terrace surrounding the monument needs to be reconstructed. The masonry joints need to be repointed,” Ms. Sullebarger said.
$41,000 raised to date
Ms. Sullebarger said $41,000 has been raised from the city of Cincinnati, Community Arts Fund of the Fine Arts Fund, Ohio Arts Council, Procter & Gamble and private donations.
The 19-foot-high bronze figure Mr. Lincoln and a female, kneeling at his statue and representing liberty, were dedicated in 1902.
The monument was donated by Civil War veteran Capt. Charles Clinton of Missouri. It is one of two copies of a statue by William Granville Hastings.
When the monument was dedicated, signatures of 2,000 pupils who attended the ceremonies were put in the cornerstone, along with a letter from Robert Todd Lincoln, the president's son, 1902 coins and a Bible.
Contributions for the project may be sent to the Cincinnati Preservation Association, 342 W. Fourth St., Cincinnati 45202, or call 721-4506.
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