Hon. Delos Filer, Manistee county. Hon. V. P. Collier, Calhoun county. Major Gen. Pierce, Kent county. From this body the committee designated as the officers of the association Hon. B. F. H. Witherell, President; Gen. H. A. Morrow, Vice President; J. W. Tillman, Esq., Treasurer; Hon. John Owen, Auditor; T. W. Palmer, Esq., Secretary, and J. W. Romeyn, Esq., Associate Secretary. The committee also named as the Executive Committee Hon. C. C. Trowbridge, Hon. John Owen, Hon. H. P. Baldwin, Hon. H. N. Walker, J. F. Conover, Esq., and C. I. Walker, Esq., all of Detroit; Ex-Governor Blair, of Jackson; Hon. E. H. Thomson, of Flint, and Hon. S. M. Cutcheon, of Ypsilanti, with the President, Treasurer, and Secretary ex officio. A meeting was also held on June 26, 1867, with Judge Witherell in the chair, when a report was submitted by Mr. Trowbridge which he had been selected to prepare relative to the merits of the numerous designs which had been presented by the different competing artists. Next morning the death of Judge Witherell occurred, and the Association was called upon to deplore the sudden and unexpected loss of its founder, a gentleman peculiarly interested in its patriotic work, and who had spent nearly the last hour of his life in planning and advising as to its future labor. Next day, June 28, the Board of Directors examined the various designs, plans, and estimates, together with their relative merits, which were fully and fairly discussed. Coming together in the afternoon of that day, it was determined to make the choice by ballot, when it was found that the deisgn submitted by Randolph Rogers, the eminent American sculptor, for some years a resident of Ann Arbor, had a decided preference. Mr. Rogers presented in detail his estimate for the work, specifying the cost of each part separately, when, after a lengthy consultation and full expression of views, the Board considered favorably the estimate, and he was awarded the contract. On July 4, 1867, the corner stone was laid in Detroit, by Grand Master S. C. Coffinbury, of the Masonic fraternity, in presence of the Grand Commanderies and Grand Lodge of that order, the Grand Lodge of the order of Odd Fellows, and a great many lodges of both orders, together with several lodges of Good Templars, the United States troops from Forts Wayne and Gratiot, with the State troops of the city, and an immense gathering of people from all parts of the State, really presenting an occasion seldom wit nessed, while Governor Blair's eloquent and appropriate oration was received with much favor and increased largely the great interest manifested in the affair. In 1868 the association was incorporated by the legislature, and its affairs are now managed by a Board of Trustees composed of John Owen, H. P. Baldwin, Theodore Romeyn, Wm. A. Butler, H. N. Walker, R. A. Alger, Thomas W. Palmer, C. H. Buhl, David Preston, C. C. Trowbridge, and G. V. N. Lothrop, of Detroit; J. F. Conover, of Kalamazoo, Austin Blair, of Jackson, and S. M. Cutcheon, of Ypsilanti. The officers of the association at present are C. C. Trowbridge, President; John Owen, Vice President; Wm. A. Butler, Treasurer; Thomas W. Palmer and James W. Romeyn, Secretaries. In the collection of the funds much labor was necessarily required, and in February, 1866, the Rev. Geo. Taylor was employed as general soliciting and collecting agent, rendering valuable and faithful service. In March following, General B. M. Cutcheon, of Manistee, volunteered his services in aid of the measure, speaking to the people in its behalf, and giving manly energy and successful effort to the cause. The structure is now completed as originally designed, and has cost $70,185.91, including iron fencing. Its architectural construction is of gray granite, while its ornamental decoration is of superior gold bronze, cast at Munich, Bavaria, and cost as follows: Statue of Michigan, $8,000. Four statues Army and Navy, $20,000. Four allegorical figures, $10,000. Four medallions, $4,000. Four eagles, $2,400. Coat of Arms, U. S., $500. Coat of Arms, Michigan, $500. The monument stands about forty-six feet, crowned by a colossal statue of Michigan ten feet high, a semi-civilized Indian Queen, with a sword in her right hand and a shield in her left; the figure in motion as if rushing forward in defense of her country. Beneath the plinth in which she stands are stars and wreaths. On the next section in front is the dedication: ERECTED BY THE PEOPLE OF MICHIGAN IN HONOR OF THE MARTYRS WHO FELL AND THE HEROES WHO FOUGHT IN DEFENSE OF LIBERTY AND UNION. On the left are the arms of the State; on the right are the arms of the United States. On the projecting butments below are four allegorical figures seated. These figures, if standing, would be six and a half feet high, and they represent Victory, Union, Emancipation, and History. On the next section below, standing upon projecting butments, are the defenders of Liberty and Union, the representations of the army and navy, four statues, seven feet high, soldiers of infantry, artillery, and cavalry, with a sailor of the navy. Between these statues are bronze tablets, on which are medallion figures of Lincoln, Grant, Sherman, and Farragut. On the outer pedestals are four eagles. "The whole-it speaks in volumes of the past- HARPER HOSPITAL. In 1863, Colonel Charles S. Tripler, Surgeon U. S. army, and then U. S. Medical Director, stationed at Detroit, represented to the Government the absolute necessity for the erection of a general hospital at that point for the reception and care of sick and wounded Michigan soldiers, and urging immediate action in the matter. In the effort, Colonel Tripler had the influence and recommendation of the Governor and military authorities of the State, and was at the same time ably aided in his undertaking by Dr. D. O. Farrand, then Assistant Surgeon U. S. Army, and Colonel George W. Lee, Chief Quartermaster in Michigan and stationed at Detroit. The authority was, after much correspondence and annoying delays, obtained under an order from the Secretary of War, and under the superintendence of Colonel Lee the work on "Harper Hospital" was commenced early in 1864. It was made up of eleven one-story buildings with a capacity for eight hundred patients, and costing about sixty thousand dollars, the use of the grounds being given gratis by the "Harper Hospital Association." Much care had been observed in regard to ventilation, drainage and superior water arrangements. Opening with an exceedingly capable management it had soon the reputation of being one of the most complete, comfortable and best regulated hospitals in the west. In usefulness it added largely to the already extensive preparation made by the Government for the shelter and care of thousands of Michigan men who, by disease or wounds, had been rendered unfit for service in the field. On its completion, Dr. Farrand was placed in charge with Dr.'s W. A. Chandler, Wm. C. Catlin, E. W. Jenks and G. W. Fitzpatrick as assistants. Dr. Byron Stanton, a Surgeon of Volunteers, succeeded Dr. Farrand in the spring of 1865, but he remained but a few weeks, as he accepted a position in an Insane Asylum in Ohio. Dr. Farrand again assumed charge, continuing on duty until June or July following, when at his own request he was transferred to take charge of the hospital at Fort Wayne, near Detroit, then occupied by U. S. troops. Succeeding Dr. Farrand, Dr. Wynkoop, a Surgeon of Volunteers, from Philadelphia, was placed in charge, remaining until the close of the hospital in December, 1865. The buildings were soon after given by the Government to the trustees of the "Harper Hospital," a corporate body, this association having in contemplation the establishment of a hospital for charitable purposes. In giving the buildings, the government made a condition that sufficient accommodation should be at all times afforded for a "Soldiers Home" for invalid and destitute Michigan soldiers and sailors, and since then it has been in part used for that purpose. The sick and wounded being very numerous at that time, and a transfer of Michigan men from eastern hospitals being very desirable, to insure them more care and the attention of their friends at home, the erection of this hospital was accomplished, and while it was accepted by the people of the State as a most generous recognition by the Government of her great claims for consideration. They will never forget the efforts of those gentlemen to secure it, while the soldiers will in all time hold them in most grateful remembrance. |