The Goal

Raise funds to place a bench in Sims Park (the present name for the former Henn property) to honor Grandma and Grandpa Henn.  The bench will be locally sourced gray granite, inlaid with bronze cameos of Grandma and Grandpa Henn.  The cameos will be based on their college photographs. 

Timing

The goal is to complete this project by early summer next year (2014).  This is 50 years after Grandpa departed this plane.  Lead time required is 60 days for the cameos and bench, so we’re looking at needing funds around the Ides of March 2014.

Funds Required:

$1400 for bench with engraving and placement included.
$560 for cameos that will be inlaid into bench
$300 for 1 cubic yard of concrete upon which the bench will rest
$______?  for the labor of the unionized city workers that will dig the hole and finish the concrete pad upon which the bench will rest

$175 tax (approximate) for purchases.

Total: ~ $2500, plus whatever the city charges to install.  I think a figure of around $3200 should be sufficient, unless the city provides installation gratis (yay, taxpayer subsidy!).

Family members have so far pledged $2400.  So we are there except for the unknown cost for labor to install the bench.  See sidebar for action required.

Want to pledge?  At present we will record your pledges for the bench.  Once the details are finalized, we will collect.  Please add your pledge in the comment section below, or call Chip or myself and tell us how much you would like to pledge.

Stretch Goals

Extra funds raised will go to provisions for a reunion and dedication at the Henn Mansion when the bench is installed.  In addition, note the city would like to raise funds for benches for the pier (see sidebar).  If you’ve wanted to get more involved with the Sims Park, this is a great time to consider it.

Pending Permissions

From the emails below, you can track Chip’s progress in making arrangements with the city, the park and the monument makers.  It looks like the efforts are now down to permission from the city.  Chip has e-mailed the city guys.  He also plans to talk to them in person.  If anyone else wants to contact the city, here are the emails:

Frank Pietravoia (Assistant to the Mayor for Development) .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Jonathon Holody (Director, Department of Planning and Development) .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Thanks!

Check out the Photos!  Feedback welcome

Do you know the details about these photos?  Do you have stories?  Click on the board, and then on the specific images to comment. Thanks!

Email Trail

As you see, we are still narrowing in on the particulars.  Thanks to Chip and Chris for all the hard work!  Most recent update is October 20, 2013.

Per Chip’s Email of March 24, 2013:

I have been in contact with various people in the city government of Euclid over the last 2 years or so (currently speaking to Jonathan Holody), asking what hoops I must jump through to place a bench in Sims park (what the Henn property is now called) to honor our Grandparents.

Well, the city is preparing to upgrade the pier behind the Henn mansion and really wants me to fund a bench (one of many) that will be installed on the pier. They want $2000 for the bench, but I want nothing to do with those particular benches as I believe that they will be vandalized within a very short time. The pier in on the beach (duh) and cannot be seen unless one is on the bluff above it.

The vision in my head (oh, is this the art you were talking about?) is a simple stone bench overlooking the lake installed close to the bluff inscribed “In Loving Memory Robert B Henn & Josephine S Henn”.

Your mom gave me pictures of Grampa and Gramma when they were at Cornell, and I will have enamel cameos made from them and affix those to the bench.

This is the project. The research I’ve done so far shows the cost to be somewhere between $2500 and $3500; the design has yet to be finalized, but this will be done whether I fund it myself or a crowd funds it. I’m shooting for the summer of 2014 for installation if the city is cool with it.

Update from Chip, May 21, 2013:

I would like to be able to place the bench in the early summer next year (50 years after Grampa died [or passed on, whatever]).

I have been in touch with a couple of monument makers, but only quick phone calls. One of Chris’ buddies is an architect and I am having him do some drawings for the city.

I have been to the Henn Mansion to scout various sites but will of course need the city’s approval. There are going to be some paths built (according to the volunteers) and there may be some issues with those.

July 25, 2013 Update from Chip:

Hey there, and greetings from the Wilds of the Ohio Territory!

Having done a bunch of looking on the web for benches and ceramic cameos, I thought “What the heck, why don’t I contact a local monument maker and see if they can match or even better the prices I have found on the internet.

So I did. Via e-mail.

Their response:

Hi Robert,

Thank you for inquiring about a gray bench for your family. A gray bench with the writing you requested is $900.00 plus tax. The cameos don’t have to be ordered through us but we will not guarantee them unless we order them. We would also charge you $50 each to install your cameos. If you order a cameo from us we won’t charge you for installation.  Cameos range from $245 to $265 each. Hope this helps you. Please feel free to call or stop in if you have any questions. Thank you.

Kim Brickman
Northcoast Memorials

July 27, 2013, Chip Update:

More updates:

Northcoast Memorials will be making the bench. I have seen their facility and works in progress along with finished pieces, and they are excellent. They will make and place the bench. It is a family owned business; and the family grew up in Euclid, hey!

They can inlay the cameos (something that I thought would best, rather than simply gluing them on as others would do). There is no charge for this, but their cameos cost about $50 more than others, so it all works out in the end.

The owner suggests that the foundation need be 18 inches deep concrete.  I have e-mailed requests for cost quotes to several businesses in the area that may deliver concrete, and am awaiting their reply. (Home Depot DYI looks to cost around $200, plus a lot of sweat) Of course, the hole will still have to be dug.

I have sent an e-mail to Jonathan Holody, Director Department of Planning and Development, City of Euclid asking for a meeting at his convenience. We have been in touch via e-mail prior to now.

July 31, 2013, Chip Update:

Hiya hiya;

More good stuff:

Met today (July 31) with Jonathan Holody, Director, Dept of Planning and Development, and Frank Pietravoia, Assistant to the Mayor for Development, and we had a nice 45 minute chat.

I first corresponded with Mr Pietravoia about a year ago when he was the Director of Planning and Development.

Just prior to the meeting a concrete company returned my call and the concrete for the foundation for the bench will come to around $300 delivered. Still have to dig a hole though.

During our chat the bench foundation came up and, as I suspected, there may be some issues with the city worker’s union as to who will do the work.  However Mr Pietravoia indicated that they have done the foundation work for other benches in the park so should be no problem.

Both Mr Pietravoia and Mr Holody indicated that they will inquire internally as to what details need to be worked out. Great guys! They are very excited about this!

They also asked if we wanted the Mayor or Council prez or other Big Kahuna to say a few words of dedication. Wow! I didn’t know what to say. I said I would discuss it with the family.

We discussed where the bench would be placed, and then they brought out the plans for what landscaping improvements will be done in the park.  Those plans are included in the attachment.  Because of the limited availability of sites that have a view of the lake, I had thought to place the bench where the sunken garden used to be and we discussed that, then Mr Pietravoia indicated on the map that there was a place here that the new landscaping should not disturb.

So… I said that a lake view would be great, but if not, then near where the sunken garden was.

On the attached map, on the right side of the map, you see the arrow to the Improved Public Pier, and just below that a Stone Overlook. Mr Pietravoia said that that area should not be changed, and there is a lake view from there.  Cool, number 1 choice!

Then on the left side of the map you will find the Eco-Ravine (education, stormwater treatment, picnic zone). That is where I remember the sunken garden to have been (actually the clump of trees directly to the right of where the arrow points). Choice number 2.

Mr Pietravoia asked for a rendering, so I have to get with it and get that done. I will attach that when I get it.

I told Mr Pietravoia and Mr Holody that we were raising funds, and that whatever was in excess would go for a family bash at the Henn Mansion, and that whatever was left after all the drunken debauchery would be donated to the city to help with the park improvements.

I think it would be really cool to raise a bunch of money and make a big donation to the city, what do you think?  I need to speak to the Volunteers and see if any fund raising can be done from the Mansion.

Costs look to be around $2100, including the bench (I haven’t got an estimate for a curved bench yet, so I added a couple hundred), the 2 cameos, and the concrete for the foundation (don’t know about labor for the foundation yet).

Timeline…. 60 days for the cameos and bench, so we’re looking at needing funds around the Ides of March 2014.

I pledge $500 at this point.

Chip

October 20, 2013, Chip Update:

We seem to be stuck at the cost of the city workers, and actual permission from the city.

I have e-mailed the city guys, and even included pictures of the property going back 100 years.

I think I will have to bug them in person.

If anyone else wants to bug the city guys via e-mail… Here are e-mail addresses:

Frank Pietravoia (Assistant to the Mayor for Development) .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Jonathon Holody (Director, Department of Planning and Development) .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Cameos will be ceramic, and probably positioned (and inlaid) on the seat at the apex with Robert B Henn engraved from the left up to the cameo, and Josephine S Henn to the right from the cameo, following the curve of the bench.

If anyone has any other thoughts we should discuss them before things get started.

Can the bench have a back?  Certainly! Of course it will cost many more bucks.  I will check on the extra cost for a bench with a back.  If there is a back, the cameos and names would be on the back instead of the seat, and the bench would not be curved.

Grandpa sitting next to Great Grandpa in his 1909 Cadillac.

Love;
Chip