Smithsonian Art Inventory Control Number: NO ENTRY.
In southwest corner of Riverside Cemetery, north of town off 493 County Road RW, and near Ogden Avenue.
There is a large plaque on the front of the base, which reads:
DEDICATED TO HER SONS WHO OFFERED THEIR LIVES IN FREEDOM'S CAUSE IN THREE GREAT WARS WAR OF THE REBELLION 1861 - 1865 SPANISH AMERICAN WAR 1898 THE GREAT WORLD WAR 1914 - 1918 ERECTED BY THE CITIZENS AND FRIENDS OF PESHTIGO - WIS.
A small plaque at the bottom of the base reads:
ERECTED BY WM. TAYLOR RELIEF CORPS MAY 30, 1936
(followed by two more lines listing Corps President Anna Albrecht and Patriotic Instructor Margaret Carsen.)
Knowledge of this Doughboy surfaced in the Spring of 2004 when Les Kopel discovered an article from the Peshtigo Times by Justin Rioelle about a restoration in process.
According to the article, funds for the original purchase and 1936 dedication were raised by the Peshtigo Women’s Relief Corps and the Carlson-Alguire Post 312 and its auxiliary.
At the time of the article, the Doughboy was missing its left hand and rifle. Funds for the 2004 restoration were being provided by DAV Post 42 of Marinette, the VFW Post of Pestigo, and the Peshtigo American Legion Post 312 Auxiliary. The restoration, which included replacing the hand and rifle, was completed by May 31, 2004. The bayonet apparently was not included in the restoration.
Special thanks to Mary Beth Noonan Jensen of Lena, WI, and her brother Mike Noonan, Marinette, WI, for the photograph. Mary Beth is a retired Principal; Mike is a retired Vice President of Enterprise Engineering of Peshtigo.