GLFEA Member Barton Malow Rigging
Installs Statue of Detroit's founder
At Tricentennial Celebration

A highpoint of the re-enactment on July 24th of Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac's landing in 1701 at the shores of what would become Detroit was the unveiling of a 2,000 lb. cast bronze statue of Cadillac. A gift to the city of Detroit from the French-American Chamber of Commerce, the nearly 10-ft. tall statue was installed earlier in the month by GLFEA member firm Barton Malow Rigging Co. It is the creation of artists William T. Keiffer and Ann Feeley. M. Raymond Forni, president of the French National Assembly, presided at the unveiling, which capped a nearly two-hour birthday program at Hart Plaza.

Detroit Mayor Dennis Archer, Gov. John Engler, and Detroit 300 Chairman Edsel B. Ford II headlined the tricentennial celebration that included remarks by Windsor, Ont., Mayor Michael D. Hurst; the Hon. Herb Gray, Deputy Prime Minister of Canada, and U.S. Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick reading a 'Happy Birthday' proclamation from President George W. Bush. The descendants of Detroit's first settlers were acknowledged as were federally recognized Indian Tribes of Michigan. The birthday party was highlighted by the entrance of the guest of honor, Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac, and about 100 or so others arriving by canoe and dressed in period garb to represent the soldiers, Indians, workers, priests and others who accompanied Cadillac on his trip to the Detroit straits from Montreal.

Barton Malow Rigging worked with ARCADIS Giffels, Southfield, to develop the platform design and anchoring techniques to install the statue. Barton Malow Concrete Services placed the statue on its permanent foundation, and designed the unveiling ceremony under the direction of Gus Cerku. Red, white, and blue balloons were released as the curtain came off the statue.

"Over its 78-year history, Barton Malow's Rigging Services Division has performed similar honors for a number of artworks in the area," Barton Malow Rigging President James P. Ellis said. "Rigging handled the installation of the Auguste Rodin statue of 'The Thinker' in front of the Detroit Institute of Arts and, most recently, we were responsible for hoisting and anchoring a giant replica of the Stanley Cup atop the Wayne County building in celebration of the 1998 National Hockey League championship Red Wings team."

Posing with himself, far left, are Barton Malow's Don Shalibo, Gus Cerku, and Wayne Vert, AIA. Cerku directed the unveiling program displaying the nearly 10-ft.-tall cast bronze statue of Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac. The statue was a tricentennial birthday gift to the city of Detroit from the French-American Chamber of Commerce. Barton Malow Rigging erected the statue, while the company's Concrete Services set it in place.

Barton Malow Concrete Services releases red, white and blue balloons as the statue of Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac is unveiled at hart Plaza.

Posing with the newly erected State of Sculptors Ann Feeley and William Kieffer pose with the statue of Cadillac they created.

At the newly erected State of Michigan historical marker commemorating Detroit's founding on July 24, 1701, are Barton Malow crew, including company president, Benj Maibach III, immediately left of the plaque in photo. GLFEA member firm Barton Malow Rigging erected a cast bronze statue of Detroin's founder, Antoine de la MOTHE Cadillac, set just south of the historical marker.