Washburn, The Monolith City – Washburn, WI
N 46° 40.394 W 090° 53.471
15T E 661297 N 5171012
This brownstone monolith stands to the right of the historical bank building in downtown Washburn.
Waymark Code: WMJ8ZH
Location: Wisconsin, United States
Date Posted: 10/12/2013
Views: 3
This brownstone monolith stands to the right of the historical bank building in downtown Washburn. Unfortunately, it had been decorated for Halloween when I was there so the photographs of the monolith itself includes some strange characters. The text of the marker reads:
This title was given back in 1892 when Frederick Prentice, president of the Prentice Brownstone Co. of Wisconsin, offered to supply a huge brownstone monolith for the Wisconsin Exhibit at the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago. He proposed to furnish this impressive one-piece structure at a size of 110 feet high, 10 feet wide at the base and coming to an apex of 2½ feet, which, according to Mr. Prentice, would eclipse the Egyptian Obelisk that measured 105 feet, 7 inches high. The stone was to be quarried from one of the Prentice operations and shipped by barge to Chicago. The Houghton quarry was selected because it had the best brownstone for the purpose, i.e., free from clay pockets, tints and streaks. A gala banquet was held when the stone was broken loose to celebrate Mr. Prentice’s huge undertaking and generous gift. Unfortunately, the cut stone never left the quarry. Mr. Prentice withdrew his offer and the huge stone was cut and reshaped for use in other buildings.
The brownstone obelisk before you was created in the likeness of that early monolith, only on a ¼th scale (27½ feet) and from many separate pieces, whereas a monolith is comprised of one single piece. By Art H. MacLeod, Washburn Area Historical Society
Erected by Washburn Area Historical Society.
Group that erected the marker: Washburn Area Historical Society
Address of where the marker is located. Approximate if necessary:
Bayfield Street
Washburn, WI USA
54891
URL of a web site with more information about the history mentioned on the sign: Not listed
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