Near the southwest corner of Grove Hill Cemetery, along N. High Street, Morrison, IL, there is a brass sundial. It rests within a white, fluted, Doric column of concrete. Embossed on the top of the column are the builder’s name–W. G. WESTENDORF–and the date–MCMLXXII. As many do, the sundial offers a message. It promises, “I’ll only mark your sunny hours, Let others tell of storms and showers.” It also marks a son’s pride in his father’s creativity.
The late Walter Westendorf (1930 – 2013) “was really proud of [the sundial and base] and that his dad made it,” stated Stan Mitick. He recounted the journeys of the sundial over the past 40 years. In 1972 W. G. Westendorf made the mold for the concrete column and inlaid the sundial. After he died, his son kept it at his cabin along the Mississippi River, north of Albany, IL. When he sold the cabin, Walt took the timepiece to his home in Morrison on E. Main Street. There was no yard in which to place it, however.
Mitick added that, about 25 years ago, Westendorf gave the sundial to the City of Morrison. The column was placed on the grass in Grove Hill Cemetery. Over time, the mowing equipment bumped into the base, and Westendorf was concerned about damage. He wanted the sundial removed and called Ruth Mitick to help find a safe storage place. City employees from the cemetery kindly moved it to the Mitick home on Anthony Court.
Stan Mitick created an attractive bed of marigolds to encircle Westendorf’s heirloom–but it was clear this was only on loan.
As his health declined, Westendorf worried what would happen to the beloved sundial. “About two years ago,” Mitick said, Westendorf asked Ruth to talk to cemetery personnel and select a place for it. She spoke to Cemetery Foreman Randy Gerlach, and “they picked a perfect spot.” However, when the time came to transfer the sundial back to the cemetery, someone had installed a metal plaque in that perfect spot. Near the three-tiered cast-iron fountain, the sundial was placed on a concrete pad to protect it from mower damage.
“Walt wanted it to be visible from [High] Street,” concluded Mitick. One can see the column, but the charm lies in seeing the pretty sundial atop it. Walkers who frequent the cemetery will enjoy marking their sunny hours at the Westendorf sundial.
Thoughts on time for future sundials:
- One moment of time is more valuable that a thousand pieces of gold. Korean Proverb
- Time heals all wounds. Geoffrey Chaucer (c. 1343-1400)
- Life is short, and it’s up to you to make it sweet. Sadie Delany (b. 1889)
- Half of our life is spent trying to find something to do with the time we have rushed through life to save. Will Rogers (1879-1935)
- Time flies (tempis fugit). Latin Proverb
- It is astonishing how short a time it takes for something wonderful to happen. Frances Burnett (1849-1924)
- I recommend that you take care of minutes; for hours will take care of themselves. Lord Chesterfield (1694- 1773)