Volume 53
Number 2
Jim’s Gems
Weather and food perfect for July 4 picnic
We had another great year for the July4 celebration—205 members and guests showed up to enjoy the breeze
from the Bay and some really good food prepared by the Rev. Hugh Hamilton and Dave Blodgett. There was
plenty of great food and adult beverages for all.
There were games for the kids and adults. The fellowship is always great with friends and family and the
fireworks were spectacular as usual. There were numerous door prizes, and game prizes for both adult and
children.
Thanks to our business partners whose contributions made our 2016 Fourth of July at the Barkley House
picnic so very successful. As you visit these various businesses, please take a moment to say Thanks to the
owners/managers for being a sponsor of Pensacola Heritage Foundation.
Pensacola Opera * Floral Tree Gardens * Atelier Alcaniz * World of Beer * Apple Market Grocery * Montage
Salon * Nail Lounge * Pensacola Symphony * Historic Pensacola (UWF Historic Trust) * Pensacola Little
Theater * Pensacola Museum of Art * Lewis Bear * Walmart Blue Angel * Walmart 334 Gulf Breeze Pkwy. *
Target Bayou Blvd. * Target Nine Mile Road * Target US 90 Pace * Pen Air Credit Union
Page 2
Aunt Frannie
Have you heard about the Pensacola Heritage
Foundation’s Galvez Monument Project?
Now I know you are never supposed to start an
article with a question. After all,
my niece worked for newspapers
almost 40 years. She was always
editing and correcting anything I
wrote. But I just couldn’t think of
a better way to start this. If you
haven’t heard about the project,
let me fill you in.
PHF has taken on the project of
raising $400,000 to build a
monument to Gen. Bernardo de
Galvez, who led several battles,
including the Battle of Pensacola, against the British
during the American Revolution. Before taking on
the British here, Galvez defeated them in battles in
New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Natchez and Mobile. In
March of 1781, Gen. Galvez and his troops began
the Siege of Pensacola during which Galvez was
wounded. After nearly two months of fighting, the
British surrendered, leaving them without any major
naval bases along the Gulf Coast.
According to
historians, this victory contributed to the eventual
triumph of the American Revolution.
When I learned of this project, I immediately
contacted PHF President Jim Green and other
members of the Galvez project steering committee
and told them I wanted to be a part of this project.
After all, some people insist that I was around during
the American Revolution. I may be old, but I’m not
that old.
Local sculptor and retired Navy Capt. Bob
Rasmussen and his daughter, Kathryn Vincze, are
sculpting the statue of Galvez on his horse. The
statue is life-size. In fact, it is so large that they are
having to sculpt it in the Rasmussen garage instead
of his studio. Recently, I was invited out to see the
progress.
Oh my! That statue is going to be almost as
handsome as Capt. Rasmussen. Bob – he told me I
could call him that – explained what all went into
making a bronze statue of this size, but I was so busy
admiring both Bob and his work, that I have to admit
I still don’t know a lot about the process. I do know
Styrofoam. Then that is being covered with clay, which
is getting all the details including beautiful ruffles and
lace and buttons on his uniform.
You know, back in Galvez’s day men really knew how
to dress, even in battle. I bet the women fell in love with
their clothes, not the men.
Local architect Dio Perera is designing the base of the
monument, which will include a water feature. Perera is
cute also, but just a little young for me.
But back to the Galvez project. Of course I could pay
for the whole thing. I thought about selling my Rolls
Royce and giving the proceeds to the Galvez project.
After all, it is an English vehicle and this project
celebrates Spain’s defeat of the English here in
Pensacola. When I mentioned this idea to Jeeves, my
chauffeur, he threw a royal fit and threatened to chain
himself to the Rolls.
The only way I could calm him down was to agree to
replace the Rolls with one of the cute little GTA Spanos
built in Spain. It goes from 0 to 60 mph in 2.9 seconds
and can hit 217 mph. That meant that there would be
little left over for Bernardo’s monument, but as Cousin
Lulu reminded me, it will have more meaning to the
people of this community if they have “some skin in the
game.” And she promptly donated $10.
Really, it doesn’t matter if you give $5 or $500 or
$5,000. Every little bit helps. And just think how proud
you will be to tell your family and friends, “I helped
with that.”
Capt. Bob Rasmussen talks about applying the clay to the foam
form in preparation for creating the actual bronze sculpture.
Page 3
Rasmussen puts finishing touches on sculpture
The Bernardo De Galvez project is well underway and is generating a lot of interest and enthusiasm.
Capt. Bob Rasmussen and his daughter Kathryn have made great progress on the statue. They have successfully gone
from the small Maquette to the full size horse and rider. As you can see they have nearly completed the full size model
which is being reviewed by historians to ensure that the most minute detail of the uniform and other features are correct
and equestrian experts have also reviewed the horse to make sure it is anatomically correct.
The clay statue measures 106 inches nose to tail, 102 inches from deck to top of rider's head and 40 inches side to side at
the boot sole. The next step is to prepare the clay model to make a mold, which will then be sent to the foundry in Atlanta
for the bronzing process.
Dio Perera, architect for the monument is busy completing the construction drawings and selecting building materials.
We will then select a general contractor to build the monument. This is going to be a world class statue and monument
that will be added to Pensacola’s historic landscape.
The Galvez Committee has really been working hard to raise the $400,000 for this project. So far they have raised $
79,430 and several grants and pledges are pending. I am happy to be a part of this very active committee that is composed
of the following people: David Richbourg, Noman Ricks, Diane Appleyard, Nancy Fetterman, McGuire Martin, Claudine
Kriss, Jim Green, John and Gail LeRoy and Betty Roberts.
Thanks to the following people who have contributed to the Galvez project: Baroco Foundation, Carl Wernicke, Dix
Darby, Rob Montgomery, Allen Josephs, Jan Miller, Connie and Alan Bookman, Christine & Patrick Emmanuel Jr.,
Elizabeth G. King, Bob and Pat Regan, Ken Woolf, Ramsay D. Ihns, Melanie and Ron Curtis, Flack and Kathleen
Logan, Robert Bellanova, Patrick and Olivia Emmanuel, Nita Fritz Studios, Deborah and Devan Dunlap, Mary Ann
Long, Will Merrill, Dr. John and Theresa Brannan Jr., Barbara Martin, Robert Bellanova/Davie Wass, Mr. and Mrs.
Wylie Hogeman, Nancy Fetterman, Gus and Ann Fell, Helen Long Ihns, Cdr. M.A. and Eloise Eckhouse, Suellen
Hudson, Bernie Smith, Mary Stanley.
“Unlocking Our Past”
Pensacola Heritage Foundation
(850) 438-6505
P.O. Box 12424
Pensacola, FL 32591
Non-Profit Organization
U.S. Postage Paid
Pensacola, FL
Permit No. 19
Address service requested
Pensacola Heritage Foundation Briefs
Welcome New 2016 Members
Diane Appleyard * Benni Baker * Anne Harrell Jacabi * Charles Lemley * Lillian E. Lewis * John Page
Gorham D. Partington * Gerald and Carla Rich * Al and Martha Ridlehoover * Betty Roberts
Justine Simoni * Joyce Southard * Celeste Southard * Mary C. Stanley * Suzanne Whitfield
Find us on Facebook
Thanks to Barbara Fitzpatrick for the great work on our Facebook page. We are seeing increased activity as
new postings of the lecture series, July 4 celebration, and the progress on the Galvez project appear on the page.
Recently we had 1,231 views. So check us out and like and share us with your friends. Visit us under
“Pensacola Heritage Foundation”.
Check out our crossword puzzle
Madeline Bookout is one of the high school seniors who submitted an essay for the PHF Scholarship. In
addition to the essay, Madeline also created a crossword puzzle for Pensacola Heritage Foundation. The puzzle
along with clues to fill in the boxes is one of the inserts in this Heritage Times. I hope you have fun answering
the puzzle. If you need help, you can find the key to the puzzle on our website pensacolaheritage.org under
the Scholarship Tab.
Visit our Web Site
Visit our Web site at Pensacola Heritage Foundation.org. Here you can learn about what the foundation is
doing. You will also find links to General Bernardo de Galvez Monument project and many other Historic
Organizations. You can also find the answers to the latest crossword puzzle.
Contact us
If you would like to contact us can reach us at [email protected]