Sculptor Paul Friesen cares for “Soul Named Florence.”
“Soul of Florence,” a sculpture created for Newton Medical Center in 2003, will soon move to a new home: The new Women’s Center.
The sculpture has been in the Women’s Center since it came to NMC, but the Center is moving from its location at 700 Medical Center Drive to the Hospital at 600 Medical Center Drive. Florence was created by Paul Friesen in honor of his mother, for whom the sculpture was named. Florence Friesen — a contemporary of Dr. John Thomas Axtell, who founded one of Newton’s first medical clinics in 1883 — was among the area’s first female physicians.
The sculpture was donated by L. Smith, and was carved from a walnut tree log near Halstead. “Florence” will be rededicated at a public open house for the new Women’s Center on Wednesday, January 30.