Young monument builders lay foundation

Historic City News editor Michael Gold was on the scene this morning as city workers and the monument designer lay the initial mortar and set the brass elements of the Andrew Young Crossing Monument.

Jeremy Marquis and Halback Design summer intern Caeli Tolar were documenting every detail as city workers poured and leveled the foundation of the city-financed memorial to Young, and others, who played a local role in the national civil rights movement.

“We designed this to be very simple,” Marquis told Historic City News. “However, if we deviate from the design in the first stage of construction, it can cause issues at the end that will be difficult or impossible to correct.”

Marquis fussed over exacting details; adjusting letter spacing, double checking the real-life template that was collected using ink impressions from Young’s shoes and his actual stride, like an expectant father hoping that every goes according to plan.

“I want to leave a monument that the community can be proud of,” Marquis said. “Through the donation of the design and use of city resources whenever possible, I’ve tried to watch every dollar that has been spent in bringing this monument together.”

Eric Breitenbach, Senior Professor with the School of Photography at Daytona State College, was videotaping as the bronze castings of Young’s footsteps and lettering for the titles of each section were readied for installation this morning. Breitenbach is preparing a video record of the construction of the monument for the Andrew Young Foundation.

We are still a week and a half away from the dedication; rescheduled to take place on June 11, 2011. Marquis says there will be time for the cement to cure and the sandblasted granite panels to be anchored into place before the ceremonies. Andrew Young is expected to be in town to participate, however, Mayor Boles will be in Spain.

Marquis says that he is excited about the way that things are coming together and the quality of the work being done. “We need to think about how this monument is going to look a hundred years down the road. I think we’re doing that.”