The Ames Monument

Kids,

When I finally made it into Laramie,
it was late and getting close to bedtime.

I stopped at the Fire Station
and was greeted with open arms.

After introductions and a few snacks,
we called the local paper.

Now that's what I call a "Bag of Popcorn"!!

The Laramie Boomerang
is one of the few papers
to call me on the road and
request an interview upon arrival.

Then it was off to la la land.

The next morning bright and early,
the reporter stopped by and we
assembled everyone for a photo.

During the shoot,
I convinced the photographer
to meet me back at the Ames Momument
for some really cool shots.

The Ames Monument, you say.

What's that all about??

Well, the year was 1865,
and the Union Pacific Railroad
was three years old.

There was only 12 miles of track
and construction was bogged down
due to the War and lack of funding.

President Lincoln needed Help!!!

One night he summoned Oakes Ames
to the White House and said,
"Ames, you take hold of this.

If the subsidies provided are not enough
to build the road ask double and you shall have it.

The road must be built, and you are the man to do it!"

Well, Oliver and Oakes Ames were both busy men,
but accepted the task with great enthusiasum.

Oliver was in Massachusets taking care
of the family business-Ames Shovels,
and Oakes was in Washington tending
affairs of the People as a member of
the House Committee on Railroads.

Before it was over,
they had invested over a million dollars
of their own money and pledged their credit
almost to the breaking point.

At one point Oakes said,
"Go ahead; the work shall not stop
if it takes the shovel shop."

Then one day in early 1880,
the President of the Union Pacific
along with the Board of Directors
and other Road Officials stopped
at Sherman Hill during an inspection tour.

Sherman Hill is the highest point on the Line
and offered the perfect vantage point to view
the magnificent scenery of the surrounding countryside.

Then on September 10th of 1880,
Captain Sutherland arrived
with a crew of 85 men and
began the the task at hand.

Kinda puts things into perspective...

The Monument was built of native granite,
is 60 feet square, 65 feet tall,
took two years to build
and cost $69,500.

It bears the inscription,
"In Memory of Oliver and Oakes Ames."

Here it is a little closer...

then with the Historical Marker.

Here it is with Flags Flying...
at least 40 miles per hour I'd say.

This is the shot the Boomerang used
on the Front Page of the Sunday Paper.

Here is is up close and personal...

then closer still.

In case you were wondering,
this is Oakes and was sculpted by
Augustus Saint-Gaudens.

This is the St. Gaudens
in Chicago and London.

Mr. Lincoln wanted to say,
"You're the Man...
Thanks for getting the Job done!!"

Here it is looking down...

That's the Boomerang Photographer
and his wonder dog "Spot".

Here it is from the Top...

and here is is with a View.

Here it is with Three Flags...

then a few more.

Now it's time to say good-bye,
but first a few points to ponder.

On November 17, 1863
President Lincoln signed an Executive Order
setting the Eastern Terminus of the Union Pacific.

Then, on November 17, 1881
Governor Oliver Ames dedicated the
Oakes Ames Memorial Hall to his father
in Easton, Massachusetts.

The Hall was built at the same time as the Monument,
was designed by the same architect
and executed by the same builder.

And finally,
on November 17, 2001
Mr. Lincoln payed Mr. Ames a visit.

"You're the Man,
Thanks for getting the Job done."

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