In this artwork, how is the Fencing and lighting of the History elucidated?
On July 28, 1896, George Powell, president of the Vance Monument Association, announced that the existing iron fencing in Court Plaza would be removed as part of its redesign and beautification, along with posts and cables. There was a positive reaction to this joint plan of the city and county to convert the area into a park. The Asheville Daily Citizen said this would be a shock to the "Ancient and Unhonored Order of Ever-Tireds" whose "sole occupation and chief delight" was to pose against the old fence. Apparently, the fence "drew loafers as molasses will draw flies, and caused congregations that would not assemble were otherwise".
As the monument's completion approached, the community started marking suggestions to improve the surrounding area of Court Square. One newspaper reader suggested moving the existing lighting to an artistic arrangement that focuses on the monument. In an editorial on March 15, 1898, the Asheville Daily Citizen anticipated restoration of the landscape now that construction was over:If we are to keep the square in anything like a decent condition, the fence should be put back. One year's trial shows conclusively that the no-fence law is no good when applied to the square. The Rest Easies stand on the corners and whet off the grass, the Hurry Ups cut across the corners in order to get there a minute earlier, and the Jehus will make a cot of the greensward as they wait for patrons at the Asheville Livery Stables. Already some have picked the monument as a resting place and it has become very evident that not only will it be necessary to fence the square but that there must be a railing about the monument's base.Three days later, on March 18, the association had a railing installed around the pedestal of the monument. On March 26, 1898, there was public excitement when a load of iron fencing was delivered to the monument. However, the fencing was delivered by mistake; it was ordered for George W. Packs' home on Merrimon Avenue.The association also installed granite curbing around the monument square and its adjacent sidewalks to protect the grass and trees. On April 7, 1898, Smith and the committee called for contractors to supply granite curbing. The contract was again awarded to James G. Colvin of Asheville for $197. Next, the association discussed designing and adding a 2.5-foot-tall (75 cm) iron fence around the monument, set with stone posts placed four feet (1.2 m) apart. For this fence, the area around the monument had to be graded, and then would be planted with grass.Impatient for the fence, on May 20, 1898, the Asheville Daily Citizen wrote, "It has already become quite apparent that the crowd cannot be trusted to allow the Vance monument and the square to remain in any presentable condition." The problem was that the curbing installed by the association, as well as the steps of the pedestal, was an ideal seating area. The newspaper called for the board of aldermen to install a fence around the entire area. By November 1898, the association's fence was in place; however, the newspaper noted that the fence was so low that people could easily step over it.Shortly after World War I, Nathan Straus traveled to Asheville to lay a wreath at the Vance Monument as a "debt of gratitude" to Vance for his defense of the Jews. Straus, a Jewish philanthropist and owner of R. H. Macy & Company and Abraham & Straus department stores in New York City, paid for a suitable fence that was installed around the monument.
Abraham & Straus Asheville New York City Jehus World War I Nathan Straus R. H. Macy & Company George W. Packs