By Gregory Glenn Niemuth, for the CVPost
Thanks to a self-professed history buff, a flexible architect, an open-minded principal and a gifted mason, three 101-year-old friezes are on display in the recently-remodeled Eau Claire Memorial High School (MHS) gymnasium entryway.
The original art work was created in 1917 and depicts patriotic scenes, including one – “The Spirit of 1917″ – obviously related to World War I. That one had particular relevance as the nation was observing Veteran’s Day on Nov. 11 and 12.
While “frieze” is used to describe a horizontal, sculpted decoration, the trio at Memorial are similar to bas-relief where a sculpted image projects from a flat surface. MHS Principal Trevor Kohlhepp suggested that Star Wars fans may recall Jabba the Hutt’s favorite decoration – Han Solo frozen in carbonite – as similar to the plaster sculptures.
The tale of the friezes
It was 92 years ago, Armistice Day 1926, when these three pieces of artwork were officially presented in the entry hallway of the then-brand-new Eau Claire High School located at 500 Main St. They were donated by the American Legion in honor of American veterans of World War I.
A Congressional resolution approved the previous June 4 had called for an annual observance of the armistice that ended the war, which went into effect on Nov. 11, 1918, at “the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.”
In 1938, Armistice Day became a legal holiday. The name was changed to Veterans Day in 1954 to recognize the sacrifices of military men and women during World War II.
The three friezes, by renowned English sculptor Percy Bryant Baker (see related story), and a bronze plaque of the Gettysburg Address graced the high school’s halls until they were moved into storage on the building’s second floor. As Eau Claire grew, the current Memorial High School building welcomed its first students in 1957 and the former high school welcomed younger students.
By the mid-1980s, the building at 500 Main St. was used to house the central offices of the Eau Claire Area School District (ECASD).
Finding the friezes
In 2009, the Board of Education approved renovating part of the old gymnasium at 500 Main St., turning it into a computer lab and meeting rooms. In preparation for that work Larry Sommerfeld, the ECASD director of buildings and grounds, examined the second floor and balcony area of the gymnasium.
He did not “discover” the friezes, since others knew they were there. But after he saw them, he said he “made a mental note to do something with them someday.”
“I like history and the preservation of historical artifacts and incorporating them” into contemporary uses, Sommerfeld said.
His mental note bore fruit when the renovation of the MHS gymnasium entryway got underway in 2016, following a successful referendum. Sommerfeld showed pictures of the three friezes to the architect, Tim Ruppert from the La Crosse firm HSR Associates, and Ruppert incorporated them into the design of the new entryway.
Sommerfeld then spoke with Kohlhepp, the MHS principal, who enthusiastically endorsed the idea.
Historical artifacts for the entryway
Kohlhepp remembers Sommerfeld calling him and saying he had some historical artifacts that would look good in the remodeled entryway.
“I told him if you think it will look good in the lobby – go for it,” Kohlhepp said.
As construction continued, the friezes were moved last summer from the second floor of the old high school to the new entryway.
“We took our time moving them,” Sommerfeld said.
He said the friezes are not solid plaster but were frame-formed “like plastic mold injection” with hollow space on the back side. They were in their original wood frames, he added.
Care taken with installation
Miron Construction Co. foreman John Lahti worked with Jeff Kellnhofer, the company’s masonry project superintendent, to made certain the installation of the friezes was done expertly. Side pins were installed into the wood frames and mortared into the wall to secure the 101-year-old friezes solidly. The frames were then covered with glass.
“I was very excited for my crew and myself to get to work with history,” Kellnhofer said in an email. “We took the task very seriously, as you can’t go out and get replacements for these sculptures.”
He added that he “was granted some creative freedom on how to encapsulate the sculptures. My crew and I came up with the plan that you can now see completed.”
Kohlhepp said the installation of the sculptures was one of the last things finished in the remodeling. Both Sommerfeld and Kohlhepp praised the masonry work surrounding and securing the friezes.
“You can really see the quality” of the work, Kohlhepp said.
Positive reactions to the friezes
Reaction to the friezes has been entirely positive. Kohlhepp said comments he has heard range from “really cool” to remarks about how they “fit into the tradition” of Memorial.
The public can view the friezes when attending athletic functions in the MHS gymnasium, The Eagles Nest. Kohlhepp said school dances will also be held in the gymnasium and the lobby area will be open to allow everyone to view the historical artwork.
Note: the home page image shows “The Spirit of 1917” frieze by Percy Bryant Baker that is part of the art work in the entry to the gymnasium at Eau Claire Memorial High School. (Phot0 for the Chippewa Valley Post by Gregory Glenn Niemuth)
Gregory Glenn Niemuth is a retired Eau Claire Memorial High School teacher.