Photos: Joe Yarzebinski, Allison Park, Pennsylvania.
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FRANKLIN, PENNSYLVANIA
2014 Granite Copy-After
In front of Venango County Courthouse, intersection of Liberty and 12th Streets (1168 Liberty Street).
There are inscriptions around the top of the base.
The inscription across the top front reads:
IN HONOR OF WORLD WAR I VETERANS
The proper top left reads:
IN MEMORY
The proper top right reads:
IN REMEMBRANCE
The back reads:
PRESENTED BY THE VENANGO COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
The inscription across the top front reads:
IN HONOR OF WORLD WAR I VETERANS
The proper top left reads:
IN MEMORY
The proper top right reads:
IN REMEMBRANCE
The back reads:
PRESENTED BY THE VENANGO COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
AUGUST 2014
Discovered in September of 2014 by Tour of Honor rider Joe Yarzebinski, this is a granite copy-after based upon Viquesney's "Spirit of the American Doughboy", but with three tree stumps on the base (instead of the usual two), and the rifle was carved with no bayonet or sling. The monument was dedicated August 16, 2014, and was made possible by Bob Billingsley, the Venango County Historical Society, and many generous donors. A memorial list of names is to be added. As of yet, we have no information as to the identity of the sculptor.
Franklin's statue strongly resembles a 1934 copyright model of Viquesney's Doughboy found in nearby Oil City, also in Venango County, and we suspect the latter was used as the model for the former. Viquesney's 1934 model is characterized by a straighter, stiffer pose, shorter tree stumps, and the one at Oil City has no bayonet.
Franklin's statue strongly resembles a 1934 copyright model of Viquesney's Doughboy found in nearby Oil City, also in Venango County, and we suspect the latter was used as the model for the former. Viquesney's 1934 model is characterized by a straighter, stiffer pose, shorter tree stumps, and the one at Oil City has no bayonet.
