NewspaperArchive; O.T.: Mystery identity of Austin's "Goddess of Liberty"

Mon Jul 9 03:12:50 UTC 2007

NEWSPAPERARCHIVE
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NewspaperArchive added this yesterday:
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    Title: _San  Antonio Light, The_ 
(http://www.newspaperarchive.com/Search.aspx?Search=pubid:10770&utm_source=ContentUpdate07082007&utm_medium=email&utm_c
ampaign=ContentUpdate07082007)   Country: United States Of America  State: 
Texas  City: San Antonio  Page Count: 80255  Date(s): 1942 - 1954
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I did a simple search for "nachos" and it's taking 10 minutes now...
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O.T.: MYSTERY IDENTITY OF AUSTIN'S "GODDESS OF LIBERTY"
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I don't know if this will turn out to be an Audrey Munson-like surprise  (New 
York City's "Civic Fame"), but no one knows who posed for the Texas  
capitol's "Goddess of Liberty" statue (or even if that is the name of the  statue). 
The thing was made about 1888 by the sculpting firm of (Herman)  Voshardt & (Al) 
Friedley of Chicago. The goddess is not beautiful at all;  it's been rumored 
to be a politician's wife.
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Any searchable articles appreciated.
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(GENEALOGYBANK)

At 70, Lofty Lady Has Shadowy  Past (News Article)
Date: 1958-03-18; Paper: Dallas Morning News Historical Archive 
Part 1, pg. 7
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(GENEALOGYBANK)

News Story Turns up Clue to  Capitol Statue (News Article)
Date: 1958-04-23; Paper: Dallas Morning News Historical Archive 
Part 1, pg. 4

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_http://www.texasescapes.com/AustinTexas/Texas-State-Capitol-Goddess-Of-Libert
y.htm_ 
(http://www.texasescapes.com/AustinTexas/Texas-State-Capitol-Goddess-Of-Liberty.htm) 
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The Capitol Goddess
_Austin,  Texas_ (http://www.texasescapes.com/AustinTexas/AustinTx.htm) 
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The statue that sits atop the Capitol  in Austin is something of a mystery. 
Her name, origin and even the material  she's made of have been debated for 
years. No one can say with certainty if she  is a Goddess of Wisdom, Justice, 
Victory - or even if she is a “Goddess” at all.  No woman ever stepped forward 
to claim posing for the statue and when the statue  is observed up close - it 
become very clear. The "strong" features were  intentionally exaggerated to 
make her appear "normal" when viewed from below.  She's quite startling when 
viewed up close.
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Over the years  there have been several men who have claimed that a female 
ancestor of theirs  had the honor of posing. (No woman has made such a claim.) 
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The  Drunken Ride of Tom the Stonemason
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While the Capitol  was still under construction, a stonecutter named Tom 
Vorshardt claimed it was  his wife's face that was cast. Tom was said to be 
related to the partners that  had cast the statue; so it wasn't outside the realm of 
possibility. Several  controversies were swirling around the building during 
this time. Things like  using free convict labor and the importing of skilled 
Scottish stonemasons. Tom  wasn't a convict or Scottish. He would've, however, 
become a Scottish convict -  if it meant a job. What Tom was - was 
unemployed. When he couldn't get hired he  got mad and then set out to get even. One 
night, mounting his reluctant steed,  Tom rode off to steal the statue. That 
would show them! 
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While he might  have been a crackerjack stonemason, Tom wasn't very good with 
physics. He  managed to tie a noose around the statue’s neck and then tie the 
other end of  his rope to his saddle horn. He then rode off on a trip that 
lasted exactly as  long as his rope. Tom was still spitting out Capitol lawn 
when the police  arrived and arrested him for riding under the influence, 
attempting to steal a  goddess and using vile language against convicts and Scots. 
Tom produced a photo  of his wife to prove his claim. This didn’t explain why he 
tried to steal the  statue or what he’d planned to do with it. Surely Austin 
pawnbrokers would be  notified. A resemblance between his wife and the statue 
was noted and the police  sympathized with him all the way to headquarters. 
One of the wags (who always  seem to be on hand for incidents like this) stated 
"the goddess was  prettier.”
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A Very  Tall Tale

Another Austin  legend has it that one dark and stormy night the goddess 
somehow became  dislodged. She lost her balance and was hanging on to the dome by 
one lone bolt  – and a rusty one at that. This fanciful story has her being 
rescued by firemen,  fraternity brothers from UT and just plain patriotic 
Austinites that just  happened to be in the neighborhood. Republicans and Democrats 
were united in a  common effort to save the damsel in distress. They climbed 
upward into the black  night, fighting wind, lightning and golf balls the size 
of hailstones to secure  the robed statue. Or should that be hailstones the 
size of golf balls? Anyway,  there's not a lick of truth to it. Especially the 
part about Republicans and  Democrats working together. 
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Her origin has  been suggested as Belgium, France, Spain or Chicago. It seems 
a foreign  birthplace might explain that face. Another legend says that an 
older sister  lies in a watery grave at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. This 
one, the legend  says, is an insurance company replacement sent a year later. 
Who  knows?
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Some  assembly required?

Some say that the  statue was cast right there on the Capitol grounds, while 
others say she arrived  in pieces and was assembled on site. Another source 
says she arrived in one  piece on a specially built wagon - and there may be a 
photo proving that  story. 

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