Herman Menz's Devil

Statues of slave owners, NAZIs, Confederate officers...pffft!

In 1905 Detroiter Herman Menz erected a gargoyle statue that the residents of the city mistook for Satan himself (Menz played into the fervor) and demanded its fall lest they riot and tear it down. 

Detroit Free Press, November 9, 1905 (enlarge)

Menz mollified the mob by allowing visitors a chance to visit the statue for 10c a pop but still the city wanted it gone.

Detroit Free Press, November 11, 1905

Pastors denounced it and so did his neighbors and countrymen. Menz grew tired of the notoriety and removed it himself.

Later, a man sued him and the statue was auctioned off to pay the settlement.

It was purchased by the owner of the Electric Park but after suffering losses for nearly two years after his purchase it was returned to Menz who vowed to resurrect it.

Detroit Free Press, September 24, 1908 (enlarge)

Alas- he resurrected the statue on November 1, 1908, nearly three years after he caused an outrage throughout Detroit. This go-around nobody seemingly cared, not even the Devil himself.