Theft of a Refuge
History of a Song
The history of this song can be traced to Lansing, Iowa residents. During the Christmas Holiday Season, they became aware of a small media notification of a proposed power line across the Mississippi River. They sought to alert the public and block the power line using public hearings, as provided for under the National Environmental Policy Act.
Lansing residents helped John E. Martin (pseudonym Martin G. Bates) bring his taped song to local radio stations. The front page August 15, 1976 article in the Lacrosse Tribune also helped to draw attention to the issue.
Easy to read links below – open in new tab.
https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-la-crosse-tribune-john-e-martin/135429094/
https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-la-crosse-tribune-john-e-martin/135429120/
With the help of his piano playing cousin Jonathan Lutz, and Rick Murphy, the sound engineer who gave his recording studio and engineering time free of charge, the group produced a “45 rpm single.” Jonathan Lutz practiced at John’s home on the Wisconsin side of the Missisippi in the Bad Ax River Valley, During break, they played guitar and fiddle in the fields for neighbors who were harvesting their crops. The record cover, made by Johathan Lutz, is shown below. Side two of “Theft of a Refuge” included excerpts of the August 12, 1976 public hearing in Lansing, with comments by 10,000 ducks, one frog, crickets, and a woodpecker carving in a tree. Side two has a copyright notification that reads “No Rights Reserved.”
Back Cover – About The Issue
The Employment Act of 1946 stated that “The Congress hereby declares that it is the continuing policy and responsibility of the federal government … to promote maximum employment, production, and purchasing power.”
Proposed powerline alternatives that maximized employment, reduced energy demand, and created energy sources for electricity included:
- maximizing employment levels by establishing energy conservation and home insulation programs.
- maximizing employment with the construction of wind powered electrical generating units
- maximizing employment with the construction of solar powered electrical generating units.
The Environmental Impact Statement comment period ended, Dairyland Power withdrew its application, and the powerline was never built.
Established in 1924, the refuge still faces enormous challenges and will celebrate its 100th birthday in 2024.
https://www.fws.gov/refuge/upper-mississippi-river/about-us
“Theft of a Refuge” in Ekenas, Finland
The first public performance of “Theft of a Refuge” took place in Ekenas, Finland in 2017 – more than 40 years after it was originally recorded. It was performed at a school where Jonathan Lutz teaches music.
Photos – John E. Martin and Jonathan Lutz earlier and later years.
Jonathan Lutz (left) and John Martin (right) are seen showing photos to Jonathans’ music class in Ekenas, Finland.
Jonathan Lutz is seen teaching Theft of a Refuge to his music class in Ekenas, Finland.
The first full live performance of Theft of a Refuge in Ekenas, Finland in 2017 – more than 40 years after it was originally recorded. John Martin – guitar and vocal; Jonathan Lutz – piano and vocal; The Ekenas, Finland music class – guitars and vocals.
Theft of a Refuge chords and lyrics below.
Copyright 1976-2023
© Martin Music
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The images on this web site are copyrighted. Copyright © 2022-2023 Susan L. Goodenough. These are “rights protected” images, and the rates for their use are based upon the purpose for which the image is used and the quantity involved. Images and audio on this web site are not in the public domain.