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Charlotte: |
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Zeb’s bronze bust has a history of its own
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In its July 1, 1902, report the NC Vance Memorial Association stated its fee for membership would be “one dollar for gentlemen and 25 cents for ladies.”
Its members included 14 women and one man: Publisher D. A. Tomkins, the trustee. The idea originated with Major Clement Dowd, Governor Zeb Vance’s law partner during his decade in Charlotte.
Its purpose was to raise funds to erect a monument to the late governor and senator in this city. They reached $316.79 before the outbreak of the Spanish-American War froze action. Then a competitive monument to honor Lieutenant Shipp delayed work again.
The ladies considered commissioning a duplicate of the bronze statue in the Raleigh capitol grounds and erecting it in Latta Park. An alternative choice was a new, life-size marble figure for the lobby of the then-new Carnegie Library—something like those in the capitol rotunda in Washington, DC.
Their report was approved but the required $1,500 to $5,000 was never raised. The fund reached $1,000 from all over the state, but there was disagreement about whether the monument should be placed in Charlotte or Raleigh. Then there was the lack of statues to home-grown heroes like Presidents Jackson and Polk and city founder Thomas Polk. The press pressed for Raleigh and the Charlotte association gave in.
But Tomkins didn’t. He’d been a personal friend of Vance and the drive to honor him in Charlotte continued seven years. In 1909 he breathed life into the dormant association. It opted to use the $1,000 Tomkins had held in trust for a bronze bust to be placed in the library.
The group retained Isadore Konti, noted NY sculptor to do the work. One published comment: “It is considered a triumph of the artist’s skill. Those who knew Governor Vance have frequently commented upon the excellent likeness, Mr. Konti having succeeded well in reproducing the magnificent head of Vance.”
On December 2, 1915, the completed bust was draped in a NC state flag and unveiled by a Vance relative, Mary Rogers Gibbon. Honor guests were Ms. Zebulon Baird Vance, widow of the governor, and Major and Ms. Zebulon Baird Vance, son and daughter-in-law of North Carolina’s most famous son. J. Lenoir Chambers expressed appreciation of all North Carolina for the memorial, and it was accepted by Charlotte Mayor T. L. Kirkpatrick. A benediction was offered by Dr. A. A. McGeachy.
Today the handsome bronze head of Zeb Vance stands tall on a pedestal at the far end of the Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room of the Charlotte Main Library. It’s a standout for every visitor.
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Produced by the public relations committee of the Grand Lodge AF&AM of Masons in North Carolina,
2921 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh, NC 27628 MMVIII
Author/editor: Walter J. Klein wklein(at)carolina.rr.com
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