My Kingdom - For A Hunk Of Old Soviet Cement?

Forbes

6 days ago

NOVEMBER 11, 1989: A Berlin Wall opening in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Patrick PIEL/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images) Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images
On November 9, 1989, Art Harman, a then-32-year-old U.S. public policy expert, was watching television and, like the rest of the world, was shocked by what he saw.
News anchors on most every station were reporting that the onerous Berlin Wall, one of the last remaining bastions of the Cold War, was falling. Video of joyous East Germans dancing on top while crossing into West Berlin, some of them even smashing off bits of concrete, was proof.
Rather than just revel in shock and joy, Harman immediately looked a few steps out. Why not visit Germany right now to experience firsthand history-in-the-making, but at the same time bring back authentic Wall remnants? He figured that other Americans might want to own pieces, and that they would pay good money for the privilege. Three of Harman's friends thought so, too, and joined his intrepid team.
Art Harman chipping pieces off of the Berlin Wall, November 1989. Courtesy of Art Harman
First, Harman bought a roundtrip air ticket to Berlin on the now defunct Pan American World Airways, then scurried off to the local post office in McLean, Virginia, to secure some burlap mail sacks to load the concrete into when he returned stateside. He also visited a nearby hardware store to purchase crow bars, axes, sledge hammers, chisels, hammers and safety goggles for Wall demolition when he arrived in Germany.
To sell the pieces when he returned, he envisioned mounting them on small Walnut wood bases. For these, he went to a trophy store. He also had some brass plates made to attach to the wood certifying that the Soviet cement as authentic. Finally, just before leaving for Europe, he contacted a Berlin guide to help with overseas logistics and to locate a good part of the Wall to work on. It was decided that Potsdamer Platz was ideal.
Surprisingly, Harman and his group met no resistance when they arrived in Berlin. The East German guards, many still in uniform but without their lethal machine guns, seemed amused, almost giddy. One was even posing for photos with tourists.
Art Harman with East German border guard, November 1989. Courtesy of Art Harman
It was surreal, Harman says. From 1961 to 1989, at least 140 people were ied in connection with the Wall, either being shot by East German police while trying to escape, from accidents or from suicides. That structure was serious business.
The actual demolition proved to be hard labor. Harman said that even though it was November, he and his friends were sweating big time. There was the choking dust, too - hence the goggles - but in the end the four had chipped off 1,000 pounds of Wall. All of the chunks were from the west side which was covered by colorful graffiti, and thus more likely to sell. One painted phrase Harman rememberers vividly: "Love Is Thicker Than Concrete." Conversely, the Wall's eastern exposure was painted bland white, probably so soldiers could more easily spot anyone trying to climb over and escape to the West.
After a few days, the team had managed to fill 15 sacks with their concrete stash, and checked them in at the Pan Am counter of Berlin Bradenburg Airport. Harman says they had to pony up about $800 in excess baggage fees.
Although Harman was nervous about clearing customs back in the U.S., it turned out to be easy. The agent asked what was in the sacks. When he was told it was hunks of the Berlin Wall, he laughed. "I have diamond rings and fur coats in my tariff book, but not Soviet cement," he said.
American entrepreneur Art Harman with his 1,000 pounds of Berlin Wall cement, November 1989. Photo courtesy of Art Harman
Harman says he still has a few hundred pounds of his historic cement left, some of it for sale on his website. A small piece will set you back at least $85. While demand has slowed considerably over the years, the biggest sales month is still November, right around the anniversary of the Wall's collapse.
As for profits, Harman estimates that his total out-of-pocket costs to date are about $7,500. But he says he has sold more than $100,000 worth of product. That's a pretty nice return on investment, no matter how you hack it.