Administration Moves Minerva “For Her Safety,” Damages Her in the Process
Photo used by permission
“The statue was Minerva, given by Charles Wells in 1868, standing in the entrance and well protected by thick walls, which soon crumbled around her.
Minerva was the only object that survived the fire.”
On June 12th, 2024, the Wells College Administration announced they would move our beloved Minerva “for her safety.” “To protect Minerva from theft and ensure her safety, we have decided to move the statue indoors until she finds a new permanent home.” (Wells College Facebook Page) This move was not safely and appropriately done by professionals; instead, it was attempted with a backhoe and a dolly with no additional protection. First-hand accounts say Minerva was dropped from the backhoe as they were trying to lift her into the back of a truck, which caused her head to break off.
The Wells College Administration chose to cut corners while moving one of the college’s most beloved features and an obvious piece of valuable and fragile artwork. They have shown themselves ill-equipped to handle the sensitive nature of their assets, archives, and artifacts. The Wells Legacy Society is reaching out to alums who have significant experience with museum curation, art history, and art preservation and continue to push for a seat at the table with the Wells College Board of Trustees as they decide what will happen to our other beloved artwork and assets.
The Wells Legacy Society is working very hard to protect the college’s essential assets, artifacts, and archives, and to maintain them properly and, importantly, locally. We know the importance of these artifacts to all of us, and we know that they must be handled and maintained with care.
We love Wells just like you do and understand the feelings that come with viewing photos like these. Please help us to work with partners like the Village of Aurora Historical Society to get the college to listen to us. Every donation, no matter how small, helps us fight against a college administration that still does not intend to listen to its community.
Images of the bungled attempt to move Minerva with a hand cart and a backhoe.
