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A century ago, the Statue of Liberty almost wore a watch
Federal officials rejected the watch proposal to preserve the Statue of Liberty's classic appearance amid concerns over setting a modern precedent, officials said.
- In March 1926, Swiss immigrant watchmakers Benjamin, Oscar, and Ralph Lazarus proposed strapping a giant illuminated wristwatch around the Statue of Liberty's arm, arguing it would aid nighttime navigation while promoting their Manhattan business.
- The U.S. War Department rejected the proposal, determining a wristwatch would be "too modern an ornament" for the classical monument, fearing approval might invite endless future requests to alter the statue.
- Members of the World War Veterans Light Wines and Beer League draped the statue in black crepe on May 12, 1926, demanding Congress loosen the Volstead Act to legalize beer and wine.
- By the mid-1920s, a growing middle group of Americans called the "moists" favored restoring beer and wine, with North Dakota becoming a key recruitment target as residents of German descent made up about 40% of the population.
- While neither the watch nor the protest succeeded, the events captured national attention regarding cocktails and commercialism 100 years ago, highlighting the Statue of Liberty's role as a symbol for evolving American traditions.
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A century ago, the Statue of Liberty almost wore a watch
FARGO — One hundred years ago this spring, the Statue of Liberty nearly got a new accessory: a wristwatch. In March 1926, newspapers across the country — including The Fargo Forum — carried a story about three New York watchmakers who wanted to strap a giant illuminated timepiece around Liberty’s raised arm. The proposal came from the Lazarus brothers — Benjamin, Oscar and Ralph — Swiss immigrant watchmakers whose Manhattan shop overlooked New Y…
·Cherokee County, United States
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Total News Sources21
Leaning Left0Leaning Right11Center5Last UpdatedBias Distribution69% Right
Bias Distribution
- 69% of the sources lean Right
69% Right
C 31%
R 69%
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