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Horizon Hospice Rose Garden & the Statue in the Park At first I was going to make two separate pages - the Horizon Hospice Rose Garden and the Statue in the Park. But they seem to be interconnected - if you write of one and not the other, you are only getting part of the whole story. So, this page has three parts: 'The Statue', 'The Roses', and 'In Memory of'.
The Statue
To say the least, for the last few years, times have been a bit tougher, in Elko, for a lot of us. What brought it on was a big drop in the world gold price. Gold mining provides a lot of employment for the people in this town and area. Gold prices began a significant decline around August, 1997. Beginning in the first month of 1998 through 1999 and to a lesser extent in 2000, the mines were forced to cut back spending and lay-off a lot of good people. Some mines have closed entirely. This effected not only the mines and their people, but the support industries (equipment manufactures, truck engine repair shops, radiators, tires, mill equipment, et al). When people left town for other jobs, it also effected the tax supported local government and the local merchants, many of them mom and pop (who were and still are having a difficult time making ends meet). Some of these people were lucky enough to locate other jobs in town and didn't have to leave our brand of 'paradise'.
What's this have to do with the statue in the park?
The statue was crafted by a local, very talented and likeable artist - 'Lowell Swendseid'. Lowell is also Elko High School's art teacher. He built the clay model of the original statue in 1969. I lost my notes, so will add to this part of the story later - of its origin - when I find them again. But, I remember the statue was built during the summer, in the red brick well-house building, next to where Sherman Station is now. The clay model was then taken, in pieces, to Salt Lake City and a fiberglass model was constructed. It was then assembled and given life by Mr. Swendseid again at the well house. Then moved to the present location. The original statue was a composite figure of a cowboy/miner reflecting on ... life ... maybe his future. I'm not certain. He never was given a name. A recent article in the Elko Daily Free Press, October 24, 2000, called it a 'pioneer statue'. Time took its toll, like it has on most of us, and the statue needed some maintenance to keep it sound. The statue was absent from the park for several months, this fall, and has just reappeared having a new occupation. I guess he (the statue) finally thought long enough and made up his mind on his future. He gave up mining and ranching and became a Basque shepherd. With the current economy, and the myriad of government regulations, in both - probably not a bad decision. He shaved off his mustache, had a face lift, moved his left hand a bit, got a bronze-tan, and picked up a scarf, hat and staff (maybe at Anacabe's Elko General Merchandise). Personally, I like it. It tells me Elko's people are resourceful. Willing to make a career change, just to stay here. Just as proud of his new profession as he was the previous one. I have it on good authority that this gentleman is honest, trustworthy, dependable, quiet, watchful, thoughtful, and always on the job. I think he will make a good Basque. The new statue has been named the "Watchful Shepherd" and it is my understanding that the reconstruction was approved and financed by the local Basque Club. If I am ever asked, probably unlikely, I think it should be named for an old friend of mine, Chuck Black. He, also, was an honorary Basque (truly an honor). The newspaper article also says there is a plan to add a small dog to keep him company.
Here are some photos, taken of the statue, garden and Mr. Swendseid.
May 27, 2000
July 9, 2000
May 27, 2000 October 21, 2000
Lowell Swendseid, Sculptor, Art Teacher, Nice Guy October 23, 2000
Mr. Swendseid also has three other sculptures, that I am aware of, in town. The eagle at the High School (now being refinished), the one on Dr. Gallagher's dental office at 8th and Court, and a statue in the courtyard at St. Paul's Episcopal Church at 7th and Sage.
Lowell Swendseid Sculpture, 8th & Court taken: 10/23/00
St. Frances, St. Paul's Church Lowell Swendseid Sculpture taken: 3/14/01
The Roses
Click on the rose to see some more of the beautiful roses in this garden!!
Click on the sparrow to see recent pictures of this beautiful garden!!
I really don't know a lot about the roses. Seems funny, since this is what the web-site is supposed to be about. But, unfortunately, it is true. I have seen the Elko Garden Club there working diligently. I have spoken with Mrs. Goitia, who has many beautiful miniature roses along the front fence of her yard, on Cedar Street. At one time she did some maintenance work here. I have also seen Sue Dondero from Elko Garden and Landscape planting roses and weeding in the Hospice garden. But I don't know who's the captain of this ship. There is a mixture of Shrub, Floribunda and Hybrid Tea roses in the garden. The most successful seem to be the 'Meidiland' roses. None of the roses have labels. I wish I were better at identification. Maybe in time. I have heard talk, that it has been suggested, to move the roses to another location, maybe closer to the museum and plant popular trees by the statue. The popular trees reminding folks of the high-mountain meadows where many of the Basque sheepherders ran sheep in the summer months. My opinion - I like roses and trees. Personally, I like roses better in this planter and in an adjacent location.
In Memory of
At about one foot intervals along the garden wall are brass discs with peoples names stamped on them. Above each name is stamped "In Memory of". Pretty much says it all. The following names are listed in order, going counter-clockwise, around the wall. If you wish to write a story, poem or something about one (or some) of these people, or send a photograph, I will make sure it gets a page of its own, linked from here, about that person (as long as the new outbacknevada.us is patient with me ...). I am not affiliated with Horizon Hospice and this is not a "quote-unquote official site". That doesn't mean, I don't believe in what they do. And, yes, I am an official resident of Elko and a number of these people - I knew of, knew, respected, or called 'friend'. Val Easterly, was my neighbor, Dr. Moren, my doctor, Stu Rider, "Nevada Blue Sky" and "Have a Banana", friend, John Matys "You picked a fine time to leave me loose wheel" and "You light up my life" and you did.
The first name on the list, young John Ellison - I remember standing in his dad's shop on 5th street. At the time, I knew life must have been indescribably tough for him. But when he came up to the counter, to visit with his family - he acted as if nothing was wrong. He lived life on his terms - I won't forget that and a-lot more.
Names on the Garden Wall
John Ellison Jr. Georgina Scott Florence Harriman John Miller Paul Rauscher Rory Hammer Vaudis Crapo CT Larry Yancey Thelma Webb Jayce Fordin Nancy Flynn McIntyre Betty Davis Shorty Prunty Morris Monks Kenneth Maderis Marilyn Jayo Hess Cady McDonnel Linda Lund Madeline "Maddie" Marie Dempsey Issa Afifa Khoury Rev. Ralph Bolin August Henry Yogeler Rev. DC O'Connel Alvin Randall Ora Lee Tripp Terry Spencer Susie Wayne Dr. John M. Read "Jake" Lois Myers "Aunt Dora" Gale Knutsen Henry & Mildred Nelson James Guisti Brenda Gilbert Walter White Jennifer Gail Swett "Jen" Diane Duncan Marie Chevallier Russell Andrew LaPalm George & Betty Love Richard George Prunty "Dick" Al Pulaski Peggy Miller Jennifer Lee Dunn "Jenni" C.G. Shane Anthony DuBrutz Tallion James Bruner Riki Lynn Locke John Landenberger Adam Daines Marcial Goitia "The Basco" Gloria Wells Helen Vargas Candice Eklund Kley Margaret Makin Peggy Wheeler Wolf "Papa Jack" William Duncan Henry Miren Ispisua John B. Urriola Al Holscher Mary Reed Uncle Jared "Hayford" Edith Ostler Marjory Wather Joan Bell Chalmers Doris LM Anderson Mary Robinson Blawnie Mae Fairchild Larry Pierce Iona Uhlig Kathryn Ambler Ernest Loren Boggs Dorothy Gennette Williams Hannah Tallent, Mom Kalai Baron, Debbie Baron Ernest Lewis Boggs Nana Catie Hootman Darrel Hall Charles Nightingale Todd White Dean Mathis John Urriola Genevieve Bebe Peterson Debra Hardy Belmont Richards Julian Tomera Claire Johnson Ira "Papa" Wilson Jamie Lee Allred Anthony "Tony" Vario Bettye Ibold Joanie Young Suzanne "Suzie" Mitchell Joan "Joanie" Ross Douglas King Jerry Hassett Estella Maero Albert Nightingale Vern Story Don Sherlock Jack Thomsen Dennis "Denny" Vario LaVonne Brown Wanda Lebreski Dulcie Cornett Suzanne Mitchell Charles Peterson Isolde Miller Alden Peterson Albert "Al" Garamendi Hal Norrie Juanita Miglioretto Marian Saval-Ferrigan Leon Bilbao Emolo "Memo" Bartorelli Rhea Shepard Gwendolyn Taylor Dianna Lipparelli Lajla Lyon Hazel Madden Robert C. Noel Gary Kirkwood Terry Lambrecht Donna "Mom" Bass Eva Mae Boggs Violet Mecum Laurie Glidewell Joseph Kim Johnson Lavon Martineau Clay Wadkins Cayla Bixler Marie Chevallier Delmar Nyrehn
Names on the New Rose Garden
Joyce Zerr Gloria Churchill Gloria Sharpe Joe Santos Nellie Ellen Maillet Barbara Walker Lewis Wetherell Caroll Gardiner Evan Dempsey ~ Martha Thomas Janet McDermott Betty Herrera Sharon Smith Neva Drown ~ Carol J. Pinkerton Judi King Richard Ulibarri Betty Herrera Rose Vardy Marie Burnett Connie Vario Bill Kesner Ken Dory Bryce Ballard Donna Jean Kordes Peggy Murphy Gloria Churchfield Robert P. Glennon Ann Hornbarger Amanda Nash Wanda Stokes David Hackel Jacobs - DJ Kennedy L. Torrealday - KK Rosita Green Kayla Johnson Albert Goicoechea Elias Goicoechea Delores Samper Lily Quilici Lyon John Quilici Eileen Mladenka Loren Brown
Hate to leave without a poem, or something, but too many memories flood my mind. I'll just watch these roses bloom for a moment, sigh, and move on - again.
© 2000 - 2002 - Elko Rose Garden Association
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