   Doughboy scheduled for refurbishing By Jonathan
Butcher Across the lake from the bell tower is a little known FU landmark: the
doughboy statue. This copper representation of a soldier is dedicated to
FU men who served and died in World War I. On the front of the cement pillar on which the statue stands are
inscribed the names of the FU students who died in the conflict, including
the first officer from South Carolina who died in the war, Lt. John H.
David, Jr. On the back of the pillar are engraved the solemn words "More
than 500 Furman men served in the World War. Over the years, this copper statue has been damaged by weather and is
now discolored. Many students, including sophomore David Axe, expressed
concern about the state of the statue. "It's embarassing that our monument to men who have sacrificed to
preserve our freedom is in such horrible condition," Axe says. Jerry Newman of facilities services responded by initiating an effort
to restore this landmark. Newman contacted Ted Monnich, the Chief Conservator of the South
Carolina State Museum, who will restore the statue. Monnich is in charge
of all the restoration of the metal art in the state museum, and Newman
says that Monnich Òcomes highly recommended.Ó Monnich will take the
doughboy statue back to his studio in Columbia for a month because the
work will require a great deal of detail, and moving the statue to work on
it will reduce the cost of the project, says Newman. Monnich will place a layer of copper sheet over the statue as part of
the restoration. "He is going to give preventive maintenance measures," says Newman of
Monnich's restoration process. Newman says he hopes that these measures
will allow more time between restorations. | |
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