Boreman Statue Arrives at West Virginia Independence Hall
Derek Redd Trending
WHEELING -- The latest resident at West Virginia Independence Hall glided into his final resting spot Friday morning.
The statue of Arthur I. Boreman, the first governor of West Virginia, was installed on the Independence Hall lawn. It nearly brings to an end the three-year process of conceiving the statue, raising funds for its creation and bringing it to Wheeling, where the image of Boreman now looks over Market Street. The final step comes Thursday, June 20 -- West Virginia's birthday -- when Independence Hall hosts a statue dedication at 4 p.m. Local political figures from both municipal and state governments have been invited to attend, as has Gov. Jim Justice.
Local historian Margaret Brennan bounced around the Independence Hall grounds with a smile on her face all morning. Bringing the Boreman statue to Wheeling was a special mission of hers. She is a member of the Boreman Statue Committee and has traveled throughout the state drumming up interest and donations to make the dream a reality.
"It's just thrilling because it was a worthy cause," Brennan said. "And this man deserves this honor. He truly does, because he has no real honor in the whole state of West Virginia. That bothered me forever."
Born in 1823, Boreman was elected to the Second Wheeling Convention -- where the Restored Government of Virginia was established, which later led to the formation of West Virginia -- and was elected that convention's president. In 1863, he was elected West Virginia's first governor, served in that role from 1863-69 and then was elected to the United States Senate, where he served from 1869-75.
While in the Senate, he helped lead efforts to pass the 15th Amendment, which stated that the right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.
The eight-foot statue itself, designed by West Virginia artist Jamie Lester, cost $178,000. The statue's four-foot base, designed by Boswell Monuments, was another $32,000, according to Brennan. She said there have been many generous donors to the cause, including the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History, as well as several philanthropic foundations.
"It's a collaborative effort," Brennan said. "It truly is."
Just before 10 a.m. Friday, the statue base was delivered to Independence Hall. The Savage Construction crane that positioned both the base and the statue followed shortly after, and then came Lester's truck, pulling a trailer with the Boreman statue strapped on.
Work went into the afternoon to make sure the statue was installed securely.
Debbie Jones, site manager at West Virginia Independence Hall, shared Brennan's excitement as she watched the Boreman statue lowered into place. As the site where the state of West Virginia was born, Jones said it was important that the state's first governor be immortalized on its grounds.
"He was a very important man," she said, "helping put the state of West Virginia together and then serving as its first governor. What an honor, and especially right in the middle of the Civil War. What have you taken on here, a new state right in the middle of the Civil War?
"I think that pressure would have been pretty great for him back then," she added. "This is the only statue of this governor in this whole state, and he definitely was a man who deserves this."