Known as "the Granite Capital of the World," Elberton was the manufacturing center for many Confederate monuments found in Georgia and throughout the South. The curious story of the city's first monument is told in the Elberton Granite Museum.

The monument, created by Arthur Beter, was, appropriately, carved for the host county, Elbert. The seven foot, nine inch tall statue of blue granite was erected on July 15, 1898 in Sutton Square, before a number of surviving veterans of the Civil War. On that day "carriages, buggies, wagons, carts of all descriptions, horseback riders and muleback riders, and throngs of pedestrians" descended on the square, according to the Elberton Star. The town band played, women in white dresses encircled the 22-foot high monument, flower girls carrying baskets of flowers placed them around the figure, and speeches were delivered. After its' unveiling, the paper called the statue "beautifully carved...a credit to this county..." These sentiments did not last long.

The people of Elberton soon turned on their statue. It was obvious that Beter, an immigrant, had never met a Confederate soldier. His creation was described as "Decidedly northern in dress...A strange monster, indeed", and "a cross between a Pennsylvania Dutchman and a hippopotamus." The local people thought the squatty mustachioed figure was clad in a Union overcoat and kepi cap and generally looked like a Yankee. They dubbed it "Dutchy," and it stood only twenty-five months.

Two years later, on August 14, 1900, the same paper gleefully described the demise of the statue, claiming that the figure had felt ill for some time, "a bad case of gout, judging from the size of his feet and legs-and he was compelled to wear a heavy United States army overcoat and heavy marching order." Further, Dutchy, "like all good Dutchman, loved his beer." Tortured by a keg of brew placed at his feet, "kind friends put croker sack over his head to hide the keg," the paper continued, but at midnight Dutchy "lapsed into unconsciousness" and "fell backward." His fall had been assisted by a rope draped around his neck. The head and body of the figure were intact, but the feet were severed.

"Poor Dutchy!" the paper lamented. "No longer will he frighten animals and cause them to run away, and no longer with the public have a chance to make fun of his manly bearing." The statue lay in state on the square for a day before being buried on the site. The paper assured the public that no insult had been meant to Confederate veterans or the ladies of the memorial society which had raised the statue. "It was simply an eyesore and they wanted...a more appropriate Confederate monument in its place."

A conventional Confederate figure was created and placed on the pedestal. The plot to destroy Dutchy was apparently premeditated, for leading citizens had previously subscribed funds for "a more artistic figure" to take its' place-the list of donors appeared in the same paper as Dutch's "obituary."

The statue lasted longer than Beter, who had declared Georgia granite the equal of marble for sculpture, and even superior for outdoor art. He had left Elberton shortly after his monument was unveiled. Beter's shed was sold to Peter Bertoni who enjoyed a successful career in the granite industry.

On a beautiful spring day 82 years later, April 19, 1982, an excavating machine broke up the concrete on the square and Dutchy was exposed to the light of day again. A crane was used to exhume the 3,000 pound Dutchy, which was found buried face down at a depth of 30 inches. A crowd of 300 applauded, and one witness said, "Funny looking guy, isn't he? I think they did the right thing when they pulled that statue down."

The excavation had required only 53 minutes. The red clay was removed by a run through a car wash, and the defamed monument found a safe, secure home in the museum, where it is proudly presented. The museum has many displays about how granite has been quarried, sawn, polished, cut, and sandblasted for over a century. Elberton is home to numerous quarries and related granite businesses.

Elberton Granite Museum, GA 17-GA-72 (College Avenue), P.O. Box 640, 1 Granite Plaza, Elberton, GA 30635. (706) 283-2551. Open 2 p.m.-5p.m. Monday through Friday. No admission.

Jim Miles is the author of nine books about the Civil war and two Weird Georgia books.  See Jim's books.

Tagged with: Civil War in Georgia