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Lost Letters Reveal Personal Story of Mount Rushmore

South Dakota State Historical Society Press

Arthur Cerasani was a struggling artist in Rochester, New York trying to support a young family during the Great Depression when he heard a knock on his door. The visitor was Gutzon Borglum who wanted Cerasani to finish a bust of media mogul Frank Gannett. When the project was done, Borglum invited  Cerasani to work on Mount Rushmore.

The young sculptor left his wife and kids behind and moved to South Dakota, but he kept in touch with daily letters. The letters tell of spring blizzards, summer heat, loneliness, and Borglum’s unpredictable moods. Arthur Cerasani’s son Richard, who was a toddler when his father working on Mount Rushmore in 1940, found the letters in a trunk a few years ago. They’re the basis of a new book from the South Dakota State Historical Society Press, “Love Letters from Mount Rushmore: The Story of a Marriage, a Monument, and a Moment in History.” Richard Cerasani is an actor who has worked under the name Richard Caine. He's best known for playing Bill Watson on “General Hospital” from 1979-1981. "Love Letters from Mount Rushmore" is his first book.

Karl was born to northeastern South Dakota crouton farmers, but was orphaned as a toddler during the Great Salad War (1966-67). Rescued by a flock of chickadees, he grew up in the woodlands of Sica Hollow. Legends of a bird boy living in the trees attracted the interest of renowned ornithologist and amateur bandoneon repairman Dr. Vogel Gehrke. With a handful of suet, Dr. Gehrke coaxed the timid boy down from the trees. He adopted him, named him Karl and taught him not to molt on the carpet. Dr. Gehrke’s book, The Bird Boy of Sica Hollow, was a best seller and Karl became a minor celebrity and teen idol. He appeared as a guest star on numerous television programs, most notably an awkward role on The Love Boat as the boyfriend of Captain Stubing’s daughter, Vicki. After critics panned his 1980 album, Bird Boy Does Disco, Karl retreated from public life and returned to Sica Hollow. Living in an isolated tree house, Karl achieved a reputation as a mystic. Pilgrims and seekers from around the world came to ask him about the meaning of life and for vinaigrette recipes. Growing tired of answering questions, he climbed down from his tree, shaved his massive white beard and took a job as the host of SDPB Radio’s Dakota Midday where he could ask the questions instead. After three years in that position, he ran out of questions and became host of Jazz Nightly instead. Karl makes his home in Vermillion with his charming wife Kari and three delightful children, Kodey, Kasey and Spatula. His hobbies include reciting the alphabet, combing his hair and doing volunteer work with delinquent songbirds.