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Hartman Rock Garden donated to local group

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By Andrew McGinn, Staff Writer 5:23 PM Tuesday, December 8, 2009

SPRINGFIELD — A new group representing the Springfield Foundation, Turner Foundation and the Springfield Museum of Art accepted the deed Tuesday, Dec. 8, to the White House, Independence Hall and Mount Vernon.

The miniature concrete versions, that is.

The Hartman Rock Garden, a folk-art landmark tucked away in the city’s southwest corner, is now the responsibility of that new group.

Calling itself Friends of the Hartman Rock Garden, the soon-to-be nonprofit was given the garden, and the surrounding property, by the Kohler Foundation, the Wisconsin organization that began restoring the Depression-era handiwork of H.G. Hartman in May.

“Our mission is to preserve the art,” said Terri Yoho, Kohler Foundation executive director. “It’s easy to find art. The difficult part is finding good stewards.”

Kohler, which specializes in the restoration of sculptural environments created by self-taught artists like Hartman, had stepped in to save the unique Russell Avenue site when its future looked bleak.

While not quite done — workers will return when the weather warms to seal the stonework and tend to the yard — the place looks better than it has in years, with the return of Hartman-made lawn ornaments of everyone from Sitting Bull to Joe Louis.

A dedication will be held when the flowers bloom.

“The site itself has a whole new energy,” Yoho said. “You get the sense of that otherworldliness that wasn’t there until this point.”

Along with the site, Kohler also gave the new group two checks Tuesday — one for $2,000 to go toward the creation of a brochure and one for $25,000 for the group to develop empty lots across the street.

The friends group is considering the addition of parking space or a comfort station for the nearby bike trail.

But the friends are in need of some friends.

“We need the community to step up and provide perpetual care for the garden,” said Turner historian Kevin Rose.

Donations are being accepted through the Springfield Foundation. Call (937) 324-8773 for more information.

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