N. U. Club Seeks Founder Statue
Placing of a statue of John Evans, a co-founder of Northwestern and of Evanston, in a parkway created by the completion of the Clark street realignment project has been approved in principle by the John Evans Club.
In a letter to the city council, William S. Kerr, Northwestern vice president and business manager, said the club requested that the city approve the site and consider donating funds for the statue. He said the club was investigating possible sculptors for the statue and the possible sizes and forms that could be used in the parkway.
"A Good Thought"
Mayor John D. Emery said Tuesday that the proposed memorial was "a good thought, fitting and proper."
"It's a fine idea, and I compliment Northwestern for advancing it," the mayor said. "However, until more detailed plans are made, I it is difficult to comment on the city's role in the project."
The mayor referred the proposal to the city council's municipal services committee.
Possible financing of the memorial" would have to be decided after the proposal is detailed, the mayor said. Presumably, the university will solicit city funds to pay for a portion of the project.
Cites Joint Interest
The mayor said that the joint interest in John Evans made this project of interest to the city. It was Dr. John Evans who, as a young doctor, came to Illinois and helped start Northwestern in 1854.
His willingness to move from Chicago to Evanston was the reason the city bears his name rather than that of Orrington Lunt, another trustee, who refused to leave his Chicago house at that time. (He did come later.)
Dr. Evans later became the first territorial governor of Colorado on appointment by Pres. Lincoln.
Mt. Evans in Colorado and Evanston Wyo. were both given his name.
