March 3rd, 2026 Local News
Farmington, Mo. (KFMO) - A long-running local mystery has officially been solved.
When two massive bronze “bathtubs” were displayed at the Farmington Public Library in 2019, historians could not definitively prove they were part of the 1904 World's Fair. At the time, they were still widely referred to as decorative bathtubs.
Now, the 120-pound bronze pieces are back on display, and thanks to months of research, we know much more about their true identity and historic significance.
Mineral Area College history department coordinator and American history instructor Rodney Wilson has spent the past several months researching the ornate works, their creator, Berlin metal sculptor Gustav Lind, and their connection to the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis.
Wilson says uncovering the documentation that tied the pieces directly to the World’s Fair was a major breakthrough in the investigation.
Wilson has uncovered written and photographic proof to establish that these “bathtubs” are actually jardinieres, large decorative planters, and that they were exhibited in the German Court of Honor inside the Palace of Varied Industries during the World’s Fair.
In addition to authenticating their exhibition history, Wilson has also closely examined the life and artistic career of Lind, bringing new understanding to the craftsmanship and international significance of the bronze works.
The planters also carry a fascinating local story. At some point after the World’s Fair, they were painted white, eventually neglected, and left beneath yard debris on a farmhouse lawn south of Farmington. They were later discovered by new homeowners in 1973 after purchasing the property from the estate of a widow.
Today, the jardinieres are owned by Gene and Annette Fritsche of Park Hills.
Wilson will present his full findings during a free public program Tuesday, March 3rd at 6 p.m. at the Farmington Public Library. The bronze jardinieres will remain on display at the library through April 13.