Boll Weevil Monument facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Boll Weevil Monument
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The Boll Weevil Monument in Enterprise, Alabama at its original location. A replica now stands in its place to prevent theft and vandalism.
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 Location in Alabama
Location in the United States
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| Location | Main and College Sts. Enterprise, Alabama |
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| Built | 1919 |
| Architect | Bama Foundry Co. |
| NRHP reference No. | 73000336 |
| Added to NRHP | April 26, 1973 |
The Boll Weevil Monument is a famous landmark in Enterprise, Alabama, United States. It was built in 1919 by the people of Enterprise. This special monument honors an insect called the boll weevil. It shows how much the insect changed farming and the economy in the area. People even called the boll weevil a "herald of prosperity" because of the good changes it brought. This monument is the first in the world built to thank an agricultural pest!
The monument has a statue of a woman. She holds up a stand with a boll weevil on top.
The Boll Weevil's Story
The boll weevil (Anthonomus grandis) is a small beetle. It originally came from Mexico. In 1915, it arrived in Alabama. By 1918, these insects were destroying entire crops of cotton. This was a huge problem for farmers.
A man named H. M. Sessions saw a chance for change. He thought farmers could switch to growing peanuts instead of cotton. In 1916, he convinced a farmer named C. W. Baston to try it. Their first peanut crop was very successful. It helped them pay off their debts. Other farmers then bought peanuts from them to start their own farms.
Farmers still grew some cotton. But they also learned to grow different crops. This practice is called "diversifying" crops. It brought new money and success to Coffee County.
Bon Fleming, a local businessman, had the idea for the monument. He also helped pay for it. The monument was built to show how a bad event can lead to good changes. It also reminds people how the citizens of Enterprise bravely faced problems. The monument was officially opened on December 11, 1919. It stands at the center of the town's business area.
What the Monument Looks Like
The monument shows a female figure. She wears a long, flowing dress. Her arms are raised above her head. She holds up a trophy. On top of the trophy is a large statue of a boll weevil.
The statue stands on a fancy base. This base also holds two round streetlights. The whole monument is in the middle of a fountain. A wrought-iron fence surrounds the fountain. The monument is more than 13 feet (4.0 m) tall.
At the bottom of the monument, there is an inscription. It says:
"In profound appreciation of the Boll Weevil and what it has done as the herald of prosperity this monument was erected by the citizens of Enterprise, Coffee County, Alabama."
The original statue of the woman was made in Italy. It cost about $1,800. The boll weevil part was not added until 30 years later. Luther Baker thought the monument needed a boll weevil on it. So, he made the boll weevil and put it on top of the statue.
Protecting the Monument
Over the years, parts of the monument have been stolen. Sometimes just the boll weevil was taken. Other times, the whole monument was stolen! Each time, the city of Enterprise found and fixed it.
But on July 11, 1998, vandals badly damaged the statue. They ripped the boll weevil from the statue's hands. City leaders wanted to fix the original statue and put it back. However, it was too difficult and expensive.
So, in 1998, a new statue was made. It is a replica (a copy) made from a strong material called polymer-resin. This new statue stands in downtown Enterprise. The original statue is now on display. You can see it at Enterprise's Depot Museum. This museum is just a short walk away. A security camera watches the new monument to help prevent future damage. Sometimes, people pour soap into the fountain. This makes lots of suds around the monument!
See also
In Spanish: Monumento al Gorgojo del algodón para niños
