The groundbreaking ceremony for the Empire State Building took place on March 17, 1930, at the construction site located at 350 Fifth Avenue in New York City. There were 9 prominent individuals who held the ceremonial groundbreaking shovels to cut first-sod. Ninety-five (95) years after the Empire State building NYC groundbreaking; where are the ceremonial shovels? Digging through hundreds of old microfiche archives of historical groundbreaking ceremonies laying around in the boss’ office, we think we may have found the answer to this question that even today, puzzle event planners everywhere. First, CeremonialSupplies.com, the best online shop for all you need to organize a groundbreaking ceremony, a grand opening, a ribbon-cutting, a military ceremony, or any other special occasion ceremony, would like to set the scene for our investigation. It is the eve of the groundbreaking ceremony of an ambitious construction project; everything was ready, and the event planner responsible for organizing the first-sod cutting of the NYC Empire State building was reviewing the components involved in this historic event:
The VIPs of the Groundbreaking Ceremony
The ceremony marked the official start of one of the most iconic construction projects in history, which would culminate in the creation of the world's tallest building at that time. There were key individuals who would be holding ceremonial shovels to dig first ground, these were John J. Raskob, the chairman of the board of the Empire State Company, and Pierre S. du Pont, both prominent businessmen and investors at the time, who secured the financing for the project. Alfred E. Smith, the former Governor of New York, Alfred E. Smith, also played a significant role in the ceremony as he was a prominent supporter of the project; Al Smith Jr., son of Alfred E. Smith, Al Smith Jr. was involved in the ceremony as well. William F. Lamb, the architect responsible for the design of the Empire State Building, of the architectural firm Shreve, Lamb & Harmon. Brothers Paul, and William Starrett, and Andrew J Eken, of the construction company Starrett Brothers and Eken, and Severud-Elstad-Krueger, of the engineering firm Severud-Elstad-Krueger which provided structural engineering services for the building were key people who would hold the ceremonial groundbreaking shovels prepared for the occasion. The master of ceremonies at the first sod cutting ceremony of the Empire State Building was Grover Whalen. He was a prominent figure in New York City at the time, serving as the president of the New York World's Fair Corporation.
The ceremonial shovels for the first sod-cutting had been painstakingly selected from finely crafted wood and steel blade, and decorated each on the blade, with a welded plaque engraved with a commemorative message. They were all placed in their own individual stand where they would remain while not in use. Each shovel was dressed with a bright red bow, symbolizing vitality. These ceremonial groundbreaking shovels were no ordinary construction shovels, and they are meant to be preserved.
Groundbreaking Ceremony Program:
The groundbreaking ceremony was a well-organized and ceremonial event, reflecting the magnitude of the project and the enthusiasm surrounding it. The program for the ceremony likely included the following components:
Introduction and Welcoming Remarks:
Grover Whalen as master of ceremonies welcomed guests and set the tone for the event. Whalen was a prominent figure in New York City at the time, serving as the president of the New York World's Fair Corporation, and later as the commissioner of the New York City Police Department.
Speeches and Addresses:
Key individuals such as John J. Raskob, Alfred E. Smith, and William F. Lamb would deliver speeches highlighting the significance of the Empire State Building and its impact on New York City.
Turning of the Soil:
The symbolic groundbreaking moment would involve key dignitaries, including the 9 VIPs mentioned above, and certainly John J. Raskob and Alfred E. Smith, using especially engraved groundbreaking ceremonial shovels to dig and turn first ground, marking the official start of construction.
Following the groundbreaking ceremony the commemorative shovels used during the ceremony were once more placed on their individual stands for guests to admire. Paul and William Starrett, Andrew Eken, William Lamb, and Severud-Elstad-Krueger would be gifted their ceremonial shovel, and displayed in their prominent offices, and later perhaps in their homes. The ceremonial shovels used at the groundbreaking ceremony of the Empire State Building are historically significant artifacts associated with the iconic event. However, their exact whereabouts or current location may not be publicly documented or widely known. These ceremonial groundbreaking shovels are likely to be preserved as part of the building's historical archives or may be in the possession of a museum, private collector, or institution with an interest in preserving such memorabilia related to significant architectural milestones.
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