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Old State House Lion and Unicorn: An Unfolding Story
By Contributor on August 16, 2014
By Donald J. Tellalian
The restoration process of a historic landmark so often yields
surprising discoveries. Old newspapers and handwritten notes buried in
walls, and names and initials of workmen carved into timbers are some
of the delights of discovery. This August, the anticipated restoration
of the copper Lion and Unicorn, iconic figures gracing the top of the
East Façade of Boston's Old State House, may prompt such discovery.
Boston's Old State House
The Old State House, at the head of State Street, has offered us a
veritable odyssey of reincarnation. The Old State House dates from
1713. Yet, as with so many long lasting structures, over 300 years it
has lent itself to changes in use and appearance: site of colonial
government, then town hall, then state house, then physical
reconfigurations to house commercial offices and retail
establishments.
Since 2006, restoration/rehabilitation and retrofit efforts,
commissioned by The Bostonian Society, have been ongoing. This year a
key element of these initiatives will be the removal, inspection and
restoration of the copper Lion and Unicorn. The originals, in
polychrome wood, symbols of British rule, were removed and burned
during the passion of the American Revolution. In 1882, when the
building was restored to its "colonial appearance", replacements were
carved and installed. Again during a period of restoration/renovation,
those two rotting wood figures were removed and a Boston coppersmith,
Movses H. Gulesian, was commissioned in 1900 by the State to replace
the wooden Lion and Unicorn with copper ones.
Movses Gulesian? And here the story unfolds!
Motivated by an almost utopian vision of America and fearful of the
repression and dangers of late 19th Century Ottoman Turkey, this 17
year old Armenian left his family and Armenian Christian community of
Marash for a long and dangerous passage by way of Smyrna and Palermo,
arriving in New York City in May 1883. He survived with a few Turkish
coins in his pocket and slept on a park bench. After many days,
without knowing English, he managed to connect with a fellow
countryman who took him in to wind bobbins in a carpet shop. After
seven months, somewhat overwhelmed by the pace of New York City, but
with a growing proficiency of his new language and a sense of security
in his newfound country, he left seeking continuation of his
apprenticeship with copper and sheet ironwork in Worcester.
Ultimately, this penniless, yet hardworking immigrant, would acquire
citizenship, thrive and achieve fortune in late 19th century Boston.
While personal security, substantial fortune and entrepreneurial
opportunities were realized in Gulesian's adopted country, his
commitment to good work ethics and philanthropy was not forgotten. He
not only sponsored the immigration of his extended family, but
sponsored, during the late 1890's, scores of refugees from the "old
country," giving many employment and transitional lodging in his
Waltham factory building. His efforts in this regard encouraged a
longstanding relationship with Mrs. Samuel Barrows, Clara Barton,
Frances E. Willard, Wm. Lloyd Garrison and aid organizations,
including the United Friends of Armenia, the Red Cross, and the World
Christian Temperance Union.
To most who have heard of Movses Gulesian, he is remembered as the one
who saved the old frigate Constitution, Old Ironsides. In December
1908, he had read in the daily paper that Charles J. Bonaparte, U.S.
Secretary of the Navy, considered the deteriorating Constitution no
longer needed and might possibly be towed out of Boston Harbor, to be
used as target practice, and ultimately scrapped.
Gulesian, grateful for the opportunities available in his adopted
country, became a passionate student of U.S. history. To him, Old
Ironsides was an icon, launched in Boston in 1797, built with the
timbers of a Boston shipwright, gun carriages built in South Boston,
sails made in Boston and copper bolts and spikes made by non-other
than Paul Revere.
His offer of ten thousand dollars, via telegram to Secretary
Bonaparte, drew a prompt response that the U.S. Navy had no authority
to sell the ship, a move that required Congressional action. The
telegram was made public by the Navy Department through the Associated
Press and thus an article in the Boston Evening Transcript. With that
publicity, citizen and government petitions forced Congress to act.
Old Ironsides would be saved.
Publicity and controversy were also to emerge regarding the authorized
copper fabrication of the Lion and Unicorn. The Pilot, June 28, 1902,
referenced them as "Relics of Royalty," reminding its readers that one
hundred twenty-five years ago, in celebration of the National
Birthday, the patriotic citizens of Boston tore down those reminders
of British rule, "burning them, along with every sign that belonged to
a Tory." Yet in 1882, the Common Council of Boston had those "emblems
of royalty" replaced. At "the dawn of another Fourth of July in Rebel
Town," The Pilotargued for their permanent removal.
In contrast, the Boston Transcript viewed the Lion and Unicorn as
merely "orphaned emblems of British Sovereignty". The Transcript's
position was that the replacement of the Lion and Unicorn was
appropriate to the "completion of the old building as an antiquity".
Despite this degree of opinion and passion concerning another
"replacement" with Gulesian's new copper Lion and Unicorn, they were
ultimately installed.
As footnote, the Superintendent of Public Buildings informed the
Common Council as to what articles were deposited in a box placed
inside the head of the Lion. So, we look forward not only to the
restoration of the Lion and the Unicorn, but, as with that process of
historic restoration often yielding surprising discoveries, to a
search for that box!
First appeared in On King Street, The Official Blog of the Bostonian
Society, July 2014. Guest author Donald J. Tellalian, AIA, founding
Principal of Tellalian Associates Architects & Planners, LLC has led
the preservation projects at the Old State House with the Bostonian
Society since 2005.
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2014/08/16/old-state-house-lion-unicorn-unfolding-story/
By Contributor on August 16, 2014
By Donald J. Tellalian
The restoration process of a historic landmark so often yields
surprising discoveries. Old newspapers and handwritten notes buried in
walls, and names and initials of workmen carved into timbers are some
of the delights of discovery. This August, the anticipated restoration
of the copper Lion and Unicorn, iconic figures gracing the top of the
East Façade of Boston's Old State House, may prompt such discovery.
Boston's Old State House
The Old State House, at the head of State Street, has offered us a
veritable odyssey of reincarnation. The Old State House dates from
1713. Yet, as with so many long lasting structures, over 300 years it
has lent itself to changes in use and appearance: site of colonial
government, then town hall, then state house, then physical
reconfigurations to house commercial offices and retail
establishments.
Since 2006, restoration/rehabilitation and retrofit efforts,
commissioned by The Bostonian Society, have been ongoing. This year a
key element of these initiatives will be the removal, inspection and
restoration of the copper Lion and Unicorn. The originals, in
polychrome wood, symbols of British rule, were removed and burned
during the passion of the American Revolution. In 1882, when the
building was restored to its "colonial appearance", replacements were
carved and installed. Again during a period of restoration/renovation,
those two rotting wood figures were removed and a Boston coppersmith,
Movses H. Gulesian, was commissioned in 1900 by the State to replace
the wooden Lion and Unicorn with copper ones.
Movses Gulesian? And here the story unfolds!
Motivated by an almost utopian vision of America and fearful of the
repression and dangers of late 19th Century Ottoman Turkey, this 17
year old Armenian left his family and Armenian Christian community of
Marash for a long and dangerous passage by way of Smyrna and Palermo,
arriving in New York City in May 1883. He survived with a few Turkish
coins in his pocket and slept on a park bench. After many days,
without knowing English, he managed to connect with a fellow
countryman who took him in to wind bobbins in a carpet shop. After
seven months, somewhat overwhelmed by the pace of New York City, but
with a growing proficiency of his new language and a sense of security
in his newfound country, he left seeking continuation of his
apprenticeship with copper and sheet ironwork in Worcester.
Ultimately, this penniless, yet hardworking immigrant, would acquire
citizenship, thrive and achieve fortune in late 19th century Boston.
While personal security, substantial fortune and entrepreneurial
opportunities were realized in Gulesian's adopted country, his
commitment to good work ethics and philanthropy was not forgotten. He
not only sponsored the immigration of his extended family, but
sponsored, during the late 1890's, scores of refugees from the "old
country," giving many employment and transitional lodging in his
Waltham factory building. His efforts in this regard encouraged a
longstanding relationship with Mrs. Samuel Barrows, Clara Barton,
Frances E. Willard, Wm. Lloyd Garrison and aid organizations,
including the United Friends of Armenia, the Red Cross, and the World
Christian Temperance Union.
To most who have heard of Movses Gulesian, he is remembered as the one
who saved the old frigate Constitution, Old Ironsides. In December
1908, he had read in the daily paper that Charles J. Bonaparte, U.S.
Secretary of the Navy, considered the deteriorating Constitution no
longer needed and might possibly be towed out of Boston Harbor, to be
used as target practice, and ultimately scrapped.
Gulesian, grateful for the opportunities available in his adopted
country, became a passionate student of U.S. history. To him, Old
Ironsides was an icon, launched in Boston in 1797, built with the
timbers of a Boston shipwright, gun carriages built in South Boston,
sails made in Boston and copper bolts and spikes made by non-other
than Paul Revere.
His offer of ten thousand dollars, via telegram to Secretary
Bonaparte, drew a prompt response that the U.S. Navy had no authority
to sell the ship, a move that required Congressional action. The
telegram was made public by the Navy Department through the Associated
Press and thus an article in the Boston Evening Transcript. With that
publicity, citizen and government petitions forced Congress to act.
Old Ironsides would be saved.
Publicity and controversy were also to emerge regarding the authorized
copper fabrication of the Lion and Unicorn. The Pilot, June 28, 1902,
referenced them as "Relics of Royalty," reminding its readers that one
hundred twenty-five years ago, in celebration of the National
Birthday, the patriotic citizens of Boston tore down those reminders
of British rule, "burning them, along with every sign that belonged to
a Tory." Yet in 1882, the Common Council of Boston had those "emblems
of royalty" replaced. At "the dawn of another Fourth of July in Rebel
Town," The Pilotargued for their permanent removal.
In contrast, the Boston Transcript viewed the Lion and Unicorn as
merely "orphaned emblems of British Sovereignty". The Transcript's
position was that the replacement of the Lion and Unicorn was
appropriate to the "completion of the old building as an antiquity".
Despite this degree of opinion and passion concerning another
"replacement" with Gulesian's new copper Lion and Unicorn, they were
ultimately installed.
As footnote, the Superintendent of Public Buildings informed the
Common Council as to what articles were deposited in a box placed
inside the head of the Lion. So, we look forward not only to the
restoration of the Lion and the Unicorn, but, as with that process of
historic restoration often yielding surprising discoveries, to a
search for that box!
First appeared in On King Street, The Official Blog of the Bostonian
Society, July 2014. Guest author Donald J. Tellalian, AIA, founding
Principal of Tellalian Associates Architects & Planners, LLC has led
the preservation projects at the Old State House with the Bostonian
Society since 2005.
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2014/08/16/old-state-house-lion-unicorn-unfolding-story/