Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1916-10-07
The Grier Memorial

(From Deadwood -Times)
Yesterday afternoon hundreds OF
Deadwood people mingled with the
citizens of Lead and paid homage tC
the memory of the late Thomas j.
Grier, gave silent tribute of the
esteem in which they hold his mem
ory and in their thoughts reviewed
the good he had done the people OF
the city and the Hills. And as the
ceremonies of dedicating and un-
yelling the monument to his memory
proceeded in retrospection passed in
review his accomplishments for the
good of the entire community. II
was ceremony in which every citi-
zen of the Black Hills could have
fittingly taken a part, for every sec
ton of the common country has felt
some benefit from the life which he
had lived in Lead.
The crowd of people which sur
rounded the monument site was an
immense one, and representatives
were in it from every section of the
Black Hills, many travelling far to be
present at the ceremonies, and when
the flags which draped and conceal
ed the statute had been drawn aside,
revealing in lifelike presence the
features and the form of him In
whose honor they had assembled,
silence for a time brooded over all,
silence which expressed stronger
than spoken words the sentiment of
high regard for the departed which
had its abiding place in every heart.
The ceremonies which attended
the unveiling OF the statue, to the
making of which the people of Lead
and of the Black Hills had contri-
buted more than $4,000, took place
at 1880 yesterday afternoon. Be
fore the hour had arrived several
thousand people were gathered in
Main street and sought vantage
points on adjoining roofs and other
places that afforded a view of the
scene. On the right hand side of the
monument and betwee nit and the
Homestake Recreation building, a
platform was erected on which We're
seated Mrs. Grier, Richard Black
stone, who had succeeded the late
Mr.. Grier, as superintendent of the
Homestake company and other pro
minent citizens, including members
of the Homestake Veterans associa-
ton committee, which had charge OF
the fund raised to finance the build
ing OF the monument. On the oppo-
site side of the monument and be-
tween It and the Hearst kindergar-
ten, another platform was occupied
by the choir of Christ church and
the High school glee club. The
Homestake band occupied place on
the walk leading to the theatre en-
trance and around the monument
were grouped the members of the
Homestake Veterans association.
A solemn composition, rendered
by the Homestake band, opened the
ceremonies and Rev. r. o. Machin-
tosh of Christ Episcopal church,
where Mr.. Grier had worshiped, Of
fered an invocation. A sacred com
position, which had been one of Mr..
Grier's favorities among church
music was rendered by the Christ
church choir and the drawing aside
Of the American flags, which shroud-
ed the statue followed, revealing a
strikingly life-like statue of the late
sunerintendent OF the Homestake
company.
The statue stands on massive
nedestal of Balfour granite, the most
durable granite quarried in the Uni
ted STATES. i ne Atolo iA"NN ~ 49,
government give this granite crush
ing strength of $4,000 pounds per
square inch and the analysis shows
7e per cent pure silica, which en-
ables it to take higher polish than
any other granite.
The bronze statue, standing seven
feet in height, is a piece OF artistic
execution of superior merit. 1t was
made by Allan G. Newman OF New
York, after he had held many con-
ferences with those who had been
most familiar with Mr.. Grier's ap-
pearance and manner. A striking
Characteristic pose was selected, The
statue shows the subject standing
his left hand thrust into the pocket
~ his inside coat and his overcoat