Historic Wyandott Totem Pole Returns to Original Spot

The city's famous totem pole dedicated to the Wyandott tribe is back in its rightful place after a 14-month restoration project.

A formal rededication ceremony took place Dec. 6 at the southwest corner of Biddle and Eureka. Mayor Joseph Peterson praised historian George Gouth for volunteering to coordinate the restoration and performing much of the work.

There was a tribal blessing and the performed for an enthusiastic overflow crowd.

Gouth described the painstaking process of taking down the original 39-year-old pole, drying it out, chasing away the many bugs that lived inside, caulking the holes and cracks, re-carving parts of the six totems and then painting them to look like new – or even better than new.  

"Our wishes are that the newly restored Wyandott Indian totem pole will be enjoyed for many generations to come," Gouth said.

The original pole was donated to the city by Wyandotte Savings Bank. It was created by totem pole artist Gordon Watkins in 1971 as the centerpiece of the bank's 100-year anniversary.

Gouth, who lives in Taylor, taught about the Wyandott tribe in the Wyandotte's schools, where he served as a principal. He was part of the committee that oversaw the original pole and the six totems that became part of it. At the time, the 35-foot pole was the largest structure of its kind in the nation, he said.

"From that date on, everyone knew that Wyandott was really an Indian name and that real Indians had once made their village here many years ago," he said.

"Michigan weather and legions of assorted insects" took their toll on the totem pole, which underwent several repairs throughout the four decades, Gouth said. Among the biggest problems was that the support I-Beam had rusted out.

"Simply painting and caulking a few cracks to refresh the carving was no longer an option," Gouth said at the rededication. "A major effort was required to completely renovate the monument – to literally save it."

He started the refurbishing project Sept. 29, 2009.

"For over a year, our majestic totem pole has been at the city's municipal building getting a 39-year facelift," he said. "Our aim was to fully restore, rebuild where needed and refinish the totem pole with the original colors that Gordon Watkins used when he created and carved this beautiful monument."

Gouth and others hundreds worked on restoring the carving; still, he described it as a "fun project."

"Our hope is that we have restored Gordon Watkins' carving the way he fashioned it in 1971," Gouth said. "Our hope, too, is that our restoration has permanently eliminated the problems that led to the recent deterioration of our historic monument."

Peterson praised the efforts of Gouth and other volunteers. He said the pole and the work that went into refurbishing the structure help show the city's "love and respect" for the Wyandott people.

"This stabilized the heritage of our city," Peterson said. "If you don't think people missed it when it was gone, you should have fielded the many phone calls about 'what happened to the totem pole?' It's not just a totem pole. It's the history of our city."

The mayor also praised Gouth as being major part of Wyandotte's history.

More about the Wyandott Totem Pole

The six totems symbolize something different about the Wyandott people and the city's ancestors and history:

• The turtle on top is the totem sign of Chief Walk-in-the-Water.
• The Iroquois warrior is clutching a gun.
• The crest of Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac is next.
• Fourth is a beaver gnawing on a stick.
• The white fish is a symbol of good fishing.
• The bottom symbol of a Wyandott with a canoe paddle symbolizes "farewell."

Gouth thanked many for providing assistance throughout the restoration project, including: Bob and Brad Jankowski of Downriver Contract Cleaning, John Christie of , Tom Gouth of , Tom and Diane Woodruff of , Joe Alastra of Alastra Construction and Gary Ellison and his .