Photo provided by Florinda Broderick,
City of Harrison Public Works Department.
City of Harrison Public Works Department.
HARRISON, NEW YORK
Originally copyright version 1934, cast zinc;
damaged statue replaced with bronze replica of 1920 copper version.
Smithsonian Art Inventory Control Number: NY001168.
In Ma Riis (formerly Station) Park, at northeast corner of Harrison Avenue and Heineman Place (Heineman Place changes to Calvert Street west of Harrison Avenue.)
The inscription on the plaque reads:
1917 1918
DEDICATED TO THE MEN AND WOMEN
OF THE TOWN OF HARRISON, NEW YORK
WHO SERVED IN THE WORLD WAR
PRESENTED BY
CURTIS SEAMAN READ POST 3047
VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS
OF THE UNITED STATES
OF HARRISON, NEW YORK
------------------------------
ERECTED NOVEMBER 11, 1939
Three plaques on the rear of the base contain 300 names.
1917 1918
DEDICATED TO THE MEN AND WOMEN
OF THE TOWN OF HARRISON, NEW YORK
WHO SERVED IN THE WORLD WAR
PRESENTED BY
CURTIS SEAMAN READ POST 3047
VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS
OF THE UNITED STATES
OF HARRISON, NEW YORK
------------------------------
ERECTED NOVEMBER 11, 1939
Three plaques on the rear of the base contain 300 names.
The purchase of the sculpture was led and sponsored by the local post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. The base was erected as a Works Progress Administration (WPA) project with funding partially provided by the town of Harrison. A picture of this Doughboy on its very impressive base was included in Viquesney promotional brochures. Three steps lead up to a small bench on the front of the base.
The sculpture was cleaned in 1983 by John Pavlik as a part of an Eagle Scout project, but had become very pitted and covered with white film through the years since then. It was again refurbished in 2004 by Arnaldo Ugarte and rededicated May 30, 2004. The bayonet is still missing, however.
The sculpture was cleaned in 1983 by John Pavlik as a part of an Eagle Scout project, but had become very pitted and covered with white film through the years since then. It was again refurbished in 2004 by Arnaldo Ugarte and rededicated May 30, 2004. The bayonet is still missing, however.
Thanks to George Haskins, Hartsdale, New York, Webmaster of Fieldguide to U.S. Public Monuments and Memorials, for the GPS location.
Update, June 6, 2016: The statue, one of several later models that were cast of brittle zinc, toppled over due to weakness in the ankles and shattered into many pieces. Local veterans say they will start a fundraiser to repair the statue, but there are no estimates as to the cost yet.
Update August 19, 2016: The Harrison Town Board announced that it will use $43,645 from its contingency fund to build a new statue. Polich Tallix, a company that does metal-cast moldings, will do the work.
Update November 11, 2016: A replica of the Doughboy was placed on the pedestal in time for Veterans Day. However, the replacement is a bronze copy of Viquesney's 1920 copper version, rather than the 1934 zinc version that originally stood here. This has happened before, notably at Anderson, South Carolina.
Update August 19, 2016: The Harrison Town Board announced that it will use $43,645 from its contingency fund to build a new statue. Polich Tallix, a company that does metal-cast moldings, will do the work.
Update November 11, 2016: A replica of the Doughboy was placed on the pedestal in time for Veterans Day. However, the replacement is a bronze copy of Viquesney's 1920 copper version, rather than the 1934 zinc version that originally stood here. This has happened before, notably at Anderson, South Carolina.
