“That’s a regal cat,” says Joe Palms of January’s photo. “I spy the stylized iconic felines that guarded the entrance to the Ruthven Museum of Natural History,” writes Kevin Gilson. Our clue–“new home”–referred to their recent relocation. As Pamela Kittel writes, they “now keep vigil in front of the Biological Sciences Building.” For those who don’t place the latest addition to Central Campus, Anne Heise notes that its gold-domed planetarium is visible from Washtenaw.
The pumas originally “were sculpted in terrazzo by Carleton Angell in 1940,” writes David Frye. When they “suffered from the Michigan weather,” Barb Tester adds, they “were cast in bronze from molds of the originals” and reinstalled in 2007.
“I remember taking my young son [to the museum] many years ago and always patting their heads as we walked in.” says David Karl, whose son will soon turn thirty-five. Jerri Jenista adds that they are “at a height just begging for patting and photo opportunities!” “Every A2 child has had their picture taken there!” concurs Allison Smith. “We used to get up on them and pretend we were riding them when we were kids!” reminisces Gen Stewart.
We received fifty-one entries in January. Our random drawing winner is Helen Fuller, whose “kids are excited for the [museum’s] reopening in April!” She will enjoy her gift certificate at Zingerman’s.
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To enter this month’s contest, use the photo and clue on February Back Page and send your guess to the address at the bottom of the page.
