The Carl E. Akeley Memorial Stone

On May 21, 2014, the town of Clarendon, New York celebrated the 150th birthday of its most famous resident, Carl Akeley. Over 150 people attended the event hosted by Melissa Ierlan from the Clarendon Historical Society. Known as “the father of modern taxidermy,” Carl E. Akeley is the most revered master of his art. Nearly all modern taxidermy methods can be traced back to his innovations and inventions from a century ago.

Special guest speakers at the gala included taxidermy historian and past NTA President John Janelli of New Jersey, famed wildlife attorney Mike Oropallo of New York, and Akeley biographer Jay Kirk who authored the book “Kingdom Under Glass.” Presentations were made to the historical society, with John Janelli providing a copy of one of Akeley’s death masks from the gorilla “the Old Man of Mikeno” given by The Conservation Force and John J. Jackson III. Mike Oropallo, a partner in a Syracuse Law Firm, Hiscock & Barclay and contributor to Breakthrough Magazine was on hand to present the Historical Society with a letter written by the Blomquists along with a gold World Taxidermy Championships® medallion featuring Akeley on one side at age 19 and Jumbo the elephant on the other. It was a great evening, honoring Clarendon’s most famous son. Accounts of the celebration can be found online at Orleans Hub, The Daily News, and The Rochester Democrat & Chronicle.

During Akeley’s fifth expedition to the African continent, he developed a fever and died on November 18, 1926 in the Belgian Congo. He was buried atop Mount Mikeno in his beloved Africa. Surprisingly, other than a historic marker indicating his birthplace in Clarendon, there is no monument or memorial to this important industry patriarch. John Janelli had been thinking about this for years, even inviting me to accompany him to the grave in Africa for the 75th anniversary of Akeley’s death back in 2001. This lack of a physical place where one could honor and pay respects to this pioneer of our industry simmered for years in the back of John’s consciousness.

John told me that he had always dreamed of putting a memorial stone for Carl Akeley somewhere in the USA. To this effort, he tried, and was turned down when he asked to erect a monument in Young’s Cemetery in Oyster Bay, New York, where Theodore Roosevelt is buried, as Teddy Roosevelt and Carl Akeley were the closest of friends, and accompanied each other on African safaris. But John had never thought of Clarendon for a memorial location until last year.

When John met Melissa Ierlan of the Clarendon Historical Society last year, they made an immediate connection. In Melissa, John discovered a kindred spirit who also wanted to see Akeley’s memory preserved for all time. By a fortunate stroke of luck, the beautiful Hillside Cemetery in Clarendon was named to National Register of Historic Places in 2013, and Melissa Ierlan, the Clarendon town historian and president of the Historical Society, located the perfect spot within the cemetery for the monument on a tear-shaped grassy island at the end of a gravel road. Here, in Akeley’s hometown, would be the permanent memorial that John had envisioned for so many years.

Moving forward, John contacted me about pinning a post to the top of the Taxidermy Net Forums to solicit donations to make this dream a reality. The costs for the proposed monument would be about $8,000. John figured if he could get 80 taxidermists, suppliers, associations and enthusiasts to contribute $100 each, the goal would be easily made.

All donors of $100.00 and more will have their names individually etched on a series of walkway bricks that will lead from the curb to the stone itself, in appreciation for their gifts that made this exclusive memorial project for Carl E. Akeley become a reality.

Here is John’s original post about the Carl E. Akeley Memorial Stone Monument from last September:

Carl E. Akeley Memorial Stone Monument

Submitted by John Janelli
Nowhere in the world is there a memorial tribute placed in honor of Carl E. Akeley exclusively from our industry and profession of taxidermy. After meeting with the wonderful people of the Clarendon Historical Society, a beautiful place has been most graciously set aside in the Clarendon Cemetery, the very town of New York state where Carl Akeley was born and later became immersed in a career that would change not only his life but our very own industry forever.

A local stone cutter was contacted and with the help of Ken Edwards and Clarendon historian, Melissa Ierlan, a mock photo of the proposed stone and its design is here for you to see today. Made of black African granite, of which there are only two quarries in all of Africa to obtain, its dimensions are four feet high and eight inches thick cut to resemble the continent of Africa. On the stone will be “From Clarendon To The Congo – (Akeley’s timeless quote;) “Death Wins! Bravo! But I Laugh In His Face As He Noses Me Out At The Wire” along with the date of his birth; May 19, 1864 and the date he died, November 17, 1926.

The total cost of the project will be approximately $8,000.00 depending on current rates for crating and shipping along with exact design and wording fees in the stone itself.

If only 80 taxidermists, taxidermy schools, suppliers, tanners, manufacturers, state and national organizations would collectively contribute just $100.00, the entire amount for the Akeley Memorial Stone would be quickly realized in a very short time. This is not to say that any other smaller and or larger donations would be refused. They are in fact encouraged as well. All donors of $100.00 and more will have their names honorably and individually etched on a series of walkway bricks that will lead from the curb to the stone itself, for their gifts that made this exclusive memorial project for Carl E. Akeley become a reality.

Checks are to be made payable and mailed to: The Clarendon Historical Society (a 501-C3 tax deductible entity). Foot note your check – Akeley Memorial Stone.

The Clarendon Historical Society
P.O. Box 124
16385 Church St.
Clarendon, NY 14429

The Clarendon Historical Society can also accept donations via PayPal. The account is:
clarendon_hs@yahoo.com

The donor list will be updated as pledges are made and funds come in.

John continually updates the donor list on this post as new donations are made, with everyone’s name who has donated $100 or more. Right now, it reads like a “who’s who” of the taxidermy industry, but as of the current date, we are only halfway to our goal. More people need to open up their hearts (and wallets) and get involved in this worthwhile endeavor. Where else can you donate a relatively small amount of money to be a part of something that will outlive every one of us?

The current list of donors can be seen in the original Forum post here: http://www.taxidermy.net/forum/index.php/topic,373271.0.html

The Clarendon Historical Society is already planning Akeley’s 151st birthday celebration for this coming May. It would be a wonderful achievement if the taxidermy industry responded in force and reached the fundraising goal by then. We are all here today, linked by a common interest, doing what we are doing in no small part to the efforts of this great man over 100 years ago. Let us honor his memory with a permanent symbol that signifies the importance he deserves.

Here is Melissa Ierlan’s message about this project:

Carl Akeley Memorial Stone Project

The Historical Society of Clarendon, NY – the birth place and home of Carl Ethan Akeley, is proud to announce its plans to have an official memorial stone erected in our town cemetery in honor of Mr. Akeley; taxidermist, innovator, sculptor, author and conservationist. The stone itself, black African granite, is currently being hewn from one of only a few quarries in all of Africa. When finished it will bear the shape of the African continent of which Akeley devoted so much of his life to preserve, protect and portray through taxidermy. The projected cost of this memorial is $8,000.00 not including installation expenses.

We would like to invite all subscribers of Taxidermy.Net, to please consider making a donation to help make this monumental gesture a reality. Nowhere in America is there a fitting tribute to such a remarkable genius that solely comes from the taxidermy industry at large, until now. A special fund and most convenient ways of making your contribution to help preserve Carl Akeley’s legacy in Clarendon, NY is now intact and ready to accept your tax deductible gift. From quarry to ground will take approximately six months to complete. A time and date will accordingly be set for the tentative ceremony and observances. All donors will receive a laminated memorial card “From Clarendon to the Congo” along with an invitation to the services upon completion schedule.

Taxidermists, supply companies, tanneries, state, national and international organizations will all be acknowledged regardless of the amount of donations that are anticipated. Respective updates will be made as time unfolds.

Thank you,
Melissa Ierlan
Clarendon Historical Society
Akeley Memorial Stone Project