Tesla: Permanent Resident of Niagara Falls

On the occasion of the 160^th anniversary of Tesla’s birth, and the 10^th anniversary of the installation of a statue dedicated to the man who lit up the 20th century

I vividly remember that sunny July day ten years ago, when I stood on tip-toes to better see the unveiling of the statue of Nikola Tesla—one of the greatest scientists of all time, and one of the most important Serbs in history. I was one of many whose hearts were beating with excitement and pride, and who shed a tear of emotion when the statue was finally unveiled. That Sunday, July 9^th, 2006, on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls, the Serbian emigration stood united.

The idea was born in 2003 in Hamilton, at a meeting of the Serbian National Defense Council presided by Bora Dragašević. The 60^th anniversary of Tesla’s death and the 150^th anniversary of his birth were nearing. Draga Dragašević met with Aca Pantelić, the former president of the church-school congregation of St. George’s Church, and the current president at the time, Dušan Kolundžić, in Niagara Falls. The idea was born, and Aca’s suggestion that the statue be erected next to the falls began to take shape.

Firstly, July 10^th was established as Nikola Tesla Day in Niagara Falls. After that, Draga Dragašević and Dušan Kolundžić suggested the installation of a statue to City Council. Mrs. Dragašević presented two valuable pictures, which had belonged to her family, to City Council: a photograph of Tesla from 1933 and Tesla’s portrait, a lithograph by Dragan Malašević “Tapi.”

From that moment onwards, the church-school congregation of St. George’s Church took over the organization, and a special committee was created with Misters Kolundžić and Pantelić at the head. In order to get permission from the Niagara Parks Commission to install the statue, the Serbian community in Niagara Falls used its influence and long-term good reputation. After a competition held to determine the sculptor, the honour went to Les Drysdale and his workshop to create the statue out of bronze. It is interesting to note that Les Drysdale used Tesla’s fellow countryman as a model—a Serb by the name of Nikola Glumac, originally from Lika, who was living in Hamilton. Danilo Radić, an engineer from Toronto, made the draft and placed the cement platform free of charge.  

The funds for the project were collected by an organization named the Tesla Memorial Fund. Unfortunately, not a single one of the big companies that use some of Tesla’s inventions—such as Westinghouse, General Electric, Ontario Hydro, or Tesla Motors—gave even the smallest contribution.

On Tesla’s 150^th birthday, the ceremony for the unveiling of his statue was opened by the joint choirs of Niagara Falls and Hamilton. A satellite broadcast allowed Serbs in the homeland to also witness this momentous occasion. By the falls, the place where one of Nikola Tesla’s greatest inventions was realized, the mistress of ceremonies Draga Dragašević addressed those present with these words: “With his inventions of alternating current and many other discoveries, Nikola Tesla created the foundations of modern technological societies in the world. Nikola Tesla left an eternal monument to his name, to Niagara Falls, to our homeland, and to the whole world when the first generator started working, and only three years later, the first electric power transmission was sent from Niagara Falls to Buffalo. The rest is history.”

Canadian officials spoke about Nikola Tesla’s character and importance, and the Minister for Foreign Economic Relations, Milan Parivodić, addressed the gathering on behalf of the Government of Serbia. The family of the great scientist was represented by William Terbo, the grandson of Tesla’s sister, Angelina. The unveiling ceremony was witnessed by representatives of the Serbian Embassy and Consulate, as well as by other important guests. The musical portion of the program presented choirs, folklore ensembles, and musicians from Canada and Serbia.

Every year, thousands of visitors to Niagara Falls pass by the statue that Canadian Serbs erected in honour of one of their giants. There are still some who do not know who is the tall and slightly bent man facing the Falls, with a hat in his left hand and a walking stick in his right. But—just as I am sure there is not a single Serb who does not stop by the statue to pay respect to this great scientist and take a picture beside this sculptural masterpiece—I am sure that time and effort on the part of our communities in Canada will ensure that Nikola Tesla’s name will be known to everyone, and his contributions recognized and appreciated throughout the whole world.

Legend has it that Tesla, as he was walking through a park in Budapest, stopped and started drawing a sketch of an induction motor in the sand with his walking stick. Canadian sculptor Drysdale eternalized this moment by creating a life-sized figure of Tesla facing the falls as he is drawing the sketch, standing on a platform that is a segment of that same induction motor.

Material from the book “Stopama predaka” (In the Footsteps of my Forefathers) by Bora Dragašević was used for this article. The family Dragašević generously offered not only written material, but also the attached photographs.

On Saturday, June 25^th, 2016 at 3:00pm, Tesla’s park will be officially opened at the site of the statue, complete with wooden benches, flowers, and lit paths that lead to the statue. Bronze plaques of thanks will have the names of big contributors who donated $50,000 (St. George Church in Niagara Falls, the Serbian National Defense Council, and the Republic of Serbia) as well as those who gave contributions of  $25,000.