A COMMUNITY EFFORT

City of Grand Rapids Parks and Recreation Department

Mission Statement The long-term vision of the City of Grand Rapids Parks & Recreation Department is a system that oper-ates within a sustainable financial framework while protecting the environment and providing high qual-ity of life for City residents. With over 2,000 acres of parklands located throughout the City, the Grand Rapids Parks and Recreation Department welcomes you to enjoy the natural beauty and recreational op-portunities in our community. Enjoy a family picnic, hike the trails, and take advantage of the many recrea-tional activities. A variety of our parks also host eth-nic festivals, concerts, public outdoor art and sculp-ture, and historical monuments.

History Remembered, Inc.

Mission Statement Because most history is about people, we are the voice of those no longer with us. Our purpose is to:

Create community awareness thru educational programs.

Assist local governments and community groups in the preservation of historical objects.

Raise funds to help repair, restore, and/or pre-serve items relating to our treasured past.

Public Museum of Grand Rapids

Mission Statement The Public Museum will play vital leadership and servant roles in enhancing the lives of those in our communities. More specifically:

As a convener and facilitator, we will partner with and bring institutions and individuals to-gether in the pursuit of insight and understand-ing,

As a collector, we will preserve the treasures of the past and present - to be used for teaching the lessons for the future...and more

Boy Scouts of America

Since 1910, Scouting has helped mold the future lead-ers of this country by combining educational activi-ties and lifelong values with fun.

Help us save our history

Lincoln Place Lincoln Place Restoration Project

Sponsored by:

City of Grand Rapids &

History Remembered, Inc.

in partnership with

Public Museum of Grand Rapids &

Boy Scouts of America Troop 338

The Calkins Law Office, built in 1836, is quite possibly the oldest building in the Grand River Valley.

The office, originally located on Lot 1, Section X of the Campau Plat (Monroe and Ottawa Ave.), was moved to 1114 Ionia NW. Saved from destruction in 1971, it was relocated to Lincoln Place.

Attorney Charles P. Calkins used the classic Greek Revival-styled building as his law office until around 1849. The building experienced different owners and multiple uses. Last restored between 1971 and 1976, this rare and unique connection to early Grand Rapids history has once again fallen into disrepair.

Lincoln Place Part of State Street Park

(State Street and Washington SE)

Within the borders of this small triangular park stand two icons of our local and national past.

The Calkins Law Office

and a

Bronze Bust of Abraham Lincoln

Originally intended to be a full-length statue replacing the Kent County Civil War Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument, the gaunt and brooding bust of President Abraham Lincoln was commissioned instead. Placed in a small triangular park that the city called Lincoln Place, this bronze sculpture, designed by Adolph Weinman, was dedicated on June 13, 1913.

Today, this distinctive and interesting memorial to Abraham Lincoln is in need of complete cleaning and restoration.

Two Scouts have chosen these projects to earn their Eagle rank.

Scout Corey Alberda, of Troop 338, is coordinating and overseeing the restoration, repair, cleaning and preservation of the Calkins Law Office in cooperation with the Public Museum of Grand Rap-ids. The effort will adhere, as closely as possible, to the historical restoration that was conducted on the building in the 1970s utiliz-ing the services of local professional contractors and builders.

Scout Travis Lepsch, also of Troop 338, is coordinating and over-seeing the restoration of the bust of Lincoln and the granite column upon which it sits. A professional conservator will return the bust to its original 1913 appearance through approved cleaning methods.

Also as part of his project, Travis is coordinating improvements to the landscaping of Lincoln Place and overseeing the design of an interpretive sign sharing historical facts about the Calkins Law Office and the bust of Lincoln.

Both young men are seniors at Godwin Heights High and mem-bers of the National Honor Society. They look forward to the challenges of their Eagle Scout Projects and the additional skills they will learn in the process.

Both projects will follow the standards set forth by the U.S. Department of Interior for historic preservation.

The rank of Eagle is the highest rank a young man can achieve in the Boy Scouts of America. To obtain this honor, a “project” must be chosen wherein the Scout demonstrates his leadership abilities in planning, coordinating, supervising and completing the task.

History Remembered, Inc. is a 501 (c)(3) corporation dedicated to preserving our historical past. Local resident Bruce B. Butgereit created this not-for-profit organization after successfully spear-heading numerous other projects including the fully restored Kent County Civil War Monument, the Charles Belknap statue, and several other memorials in the Grand Rapids area.

Working with other organizations, including the National Park Service and local governments, he also restored the Michigan Monument at Andersonville Prison in Georgia and provided con-sultation on many memorials across the State of Michigan includ-ing Detroit, Jackson, Tipton, Traverse City and more.

History Remembered, Inc. works with area schools, neighborhood groups and Boy Scouts on various restoration projects and provides direction for achieving success.

Boy Scouts of America 100 Years of Scouting

Cost of restoration:

$45,000 Cost of restoration:

$12,500

History Remembered, Inc.

The Rank of Eagle Scout