It had been on display in his yard for years, but now Bill Garrelts’ artwork is in the national spotlight.
Garrelts purchased the statue in an auction in the mid-1960’s.
He described it as a African-American historical horse hitching post.
“Just admired him. Thought it was unusual,” Garrelts said. “We had a garden, and he lit up the garden area, but that was all. Just a nice statue to have around.”
Garrelts researched as much as he could about the 200-pound statue’s history.
The statue is believed to have been made in the late 1700’s to the early 1800’s by Langois & Sons in Rutland, Vermont. Then, the statue was shipped to a Georgia plantation. It stayed there until the Air Force took over the property.
“At that point in time, he was going to be scrapped and he was saved,” he said.
Garrelts planned to donate the artwork to a museum in Georgia. Yet, a couple years ago, he was surprised by a caller.
“Suddenly a dealer in Dallas called me and wanted to give me a lot of money for him and I thought that’s not the direction I want to go,” Garrelts said. “I want to return to where people could see him and enjoy him.”
Then, Garrelts started making calls of his own. Months later, the Smithsonian accepted his donation of this piece of black history. Tuesday morning, the statue was picked up to be delivered to the museum in Washington, D.C.
Garrelts paid to have the statue restored once, and he said it is believed to be the last of its kind in the condition it is now.
“I was glad to donate it. Just that easy,” he said. “Think how many people will get to enjoy it now, just like the hope diamond and the Lindbergh airplane. That’s my reason. The only reason.”
The statue will be a part of a new building and exhibit on black history at the Smithsonian. It’s expected to open in spring 2016.