The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-03-14

CENTENNIAL MEMORIAL BRACKET
Prof. NJ. F. Maury, centennial director,
has received letter from Mr.. George b.
Crawford, of Wellsburg, from which we
extract the following:
~ am pleased to Inform you that the
finishing touches are being put to the
Centennial Memorial Bracket of which
/ advised you a short time since, and
this week, no preventing Providence, 1t
will be entirely finished. The whole
work is far beyond my own expectations,
and you need not be afraid or ashamed to
say that il was made in the little State OF
West Virginia.
"Before turning it over to the State
authorities l desire a written guarantee
that the work will be we'll taken care Of,
and at the close Of the Exposition turned
over to myself or assignee. 1t has cost
me great amount Of labor,
and would not Ike for it
TO be i'll used or 'confscated.' The
work commences with an arch in which
is Liberty, Union, Independence, be-
meath another arch, on top Of which is an
eagle on shield surrounded by thirteen
stars representing the thirteen original
States. On the arch is In God we trust.
Hanging over this arch is two flags; on
one Is thirteen stars, on the other thirty
seven. Beneath the second arch is 'l776,
and 'When in the Course Of Human
Events Surrounding all this is vine
work with thirteen stars, twelve for
States, and the top and centre one Alaska
territory; at the left hand bottom Of this
vine work is cannon and balls, at
the right a musket, sabre and tent,
lust above u square representing
The District Of Columbia. Then comes
thirteen pieces Of wood joined, on
which are the names Of the signers OF the
Declaration Of Independence, titty.six in
number; John Hancock is in large let
tiers, and the name Of each State on each
separate piece. Then comes 'Constitu-
ton, 1881 at the left Of this is IN ink
stand and pen, at the right a scroll on
which is Philadelphia, 1857; New York,
1897 Next is the shelf, in which is cut
West Virginia. next is the shield, COM
posed Of "76' pieces Of wood; on which
are the names OF the Presidents, eighteen
in number, commencing with Washington
and ending with Grant. This is sur
rounded with a border with twelve
stars and ten circles, represent
ing twelve States and ten territor-
ries. At the foot OF the shield is sec.
ton with 1876 100, 'Esto Perpetua,'
Designed and Executed by George b.
Crawford, Wellsburg, West Va, 1876
my name being cut in the wood in my
own proper handwriting. The work IS
G fleet inch from bottom to TO top; 80
inches greatest width. There are l49
pieces Of wood in the front, and some fifty
odd on the back. There are cut on il ], )
296 letters and so figures. Every piece
is pinned and glued together. The back
is fastened on with glue and screws.
There are seventy-six varieties OF
wood grown in this county and State.
"The principal tools used were penknife,
keyhole saw, fore plane and files. Not
one piece OF lit was held by wise; my
work bench was an ugly, crooked old
tool chest. Ishould have mentioned in
the proper place that n great part OF the
work ia cut through and tackled up with
gold paper. Indeed there is so much Of
It that ! can hardly describe it myself;
Wellsburg friends are getting excited
over it; hundreds have called to see that
thing you aremaking for the Centennial,
When | have put the last strokes to it !
will give them week to crafty their
curiosity, when, all things satisfactory,
will take it to Wheeling"