Astra is on his perch
Astra has been on my mind. For 14 years, the artist Richard Bergin has been trying to get his work of art hoisted to the dome of our state Capitol building. He has had the production ready, but the people who were to raise the money just couldn't do it, so he made miniature models of the sculpture and sold them, raising most of the money needed.
I think the Indian figure is just wonderful and carries out our state name and motto.
On Monday, I found a Topeka station. Surely they would show some of the procedure. They did, but after getting the figure up there, they found some of the bolts weren't right, so it had to come down. Then it didn't go back up for good until Thursday.
The name is apropos, "To the stars through difficulty."
Richard Bergin has many statues all through the state, especially in Salina and Wichita. We can have some claim on him. When we decided to restore the old-fashioned fountain in our park, he being a friend of family, gave us some invaluable advice as to how to preserve our treasure.
I felt sad at the loss of the wooden boy in the park — I had gotten quite attached to him and am pleased that he has been replaced. While we were all going about our various tasks, the termites were busily chewing on him. Mother Nature never rests.
If you haven't visited the Marion Museum, get up and go. It is very interesting and I'm sure you will be surprised. It is just beautiful. Articles are arranged very attractively. You may see something you never saw before. Cynthia, Jack, and Ella have really made it a most pleasant place to visit. You just feel all the love in these things people wanted to share. Sort of a family feeling.
— NORMA HANNAFORD
