MADISON, GEORGIA
N 33° 35.744 / W 083° 27.998
Copyright version 1922, "stone" or "marble".
Smithsonian Art Inventory Control Number: 47260014.
Copyright version 1922, "stone" or "marble".
Smithsonian Art Inventory Control Number: 47260014.
This stone Doughboy is located in front of Morgan County Courthouse, across the intersection of Hancock and East Jefferson Streets.
The inscription on the plaque reads:
ERECTED BY
HENRY WALTON CHAPTER
DAUGHTERS OF
THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
IN MEMORY OF
THE BOYS FROM
MORGAN COUNTY, GEORGIA
WHO FOUGHT IN THE WORLD WAR
APRIL 6, 1917 – NOVEMBER 11, 1918
ERECTED BY
HENRY WALTON CHAPTER
DAUGHTERS OF
THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
IN MEMORY OF
THE BOYS FROM
MORGAN COUNTY, GEORGIA
WHO FOUGHT IN THE WORLD WAR
APRIL 6, 1917 – NOVEMBER 11, 1918
A memorial brick walk between the Doughboy and the Courthouse steps, sponsored by the local American Legion post, contains bricks with names of individuals and the wars in which they served. A section is devoted to those who died. The Doughboy was dedicated Sunday, May 4, 1930.
This, and the Viquesney Doughboys in Parsons, Kansas and Madison, West Virginia, are made of stone. The primary visible differences between the stone and metal Doughboys are that the two tree stumps on the bases of the metal Doughboys are replaced on the stone Doughboys by the one large tree trunk that joins the statue at the left hip to help provide stability, and the rifle on the stone Doughboy is made of zinc. The stone Doughboy is also a little shorter. There are only three known stone Viquesney Doughboys in the country.
This, and the Viquesney Doughboys in Parsons, Kansas and Madison, West Virginia, are made of stone. The primary visible differences between the stone and metal Doughboys are that the two tree stumps on the bases of the metal Doughboys are replaced on the stone Doughboys by the one large tree trunk that joins the statue at the left hip to help provide stability, and the rifle on the stone Doughboy is made of zinc. The stone Doughboy is also a little shorter. There are only three known stone Viquesney Doughboys in the country.
Above: An old picture of Madison’s stone Doughboy. It was provided by Marshall W. Williams, Morgan County Archivist, who stated that it was taken on the day of the May 4, 1930 dedication.
The Doughboy was acquired with funds provided by the Henry Walton Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. The monument's base was built by Sam Almand. The sculpture itself was purchased from McNeel Marble Company of Marietta, Georgia, through their representative, Mr. W. H. Brady.
At the Sunday afternoon dedication, with members of other D. A. R. chapters in attendance, Mrs. Edward Willis Butler, chairman of the monument committee, gave a history of the monument. Adelaide Douglas Wallace, daughter of D. A. R. Regent, Mrs. Leonard D. Wallace, placed a basket of red roses at the base of the monument and children of D. A. R. members spread poppies around the base. Mrs. Wallace made the presentation speech, and C. W. Richter, Commander of Calvin George American Legion Post, accepted on behalf of the veterans, Mayor John Moore accepted for the City of Madison, and Commission Chairman Ben Thompson accepted for Morgan County. The statue was unveiled by Burke Baldwin, the son of D. A. R. member, Mrs. C. S. Baldwin, Jr.
The buttstock of the rifle was broken off by a child swinging on it, but it is now restored.
The Doughboy was acquired with funds provided by the Henry Walton Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. The monument's base was built by Sam Almand. The sculpture itself was purchased from McNeel Marble Company of Marietta, Georgia, through their representative, Mr. W. H. Brady.
At the Sunday afternoon dedication, with members of other D. A. R. chapters in attendance, Mrs. Edward Willis Butler, chairman of the monument committee, gave a history of the monument. Adelaide Douglas Wallace, daughter of D. A. R. Regent, Mrs. Leonard D. Wallace, placed a basket of red roses at the base of the monument and children of D. A. R. members spread poppies around the base. Mrs. Wallace made the presentation speech, and C. W. Richter, Commander of Calvin George American Legion Post, accepted on behalf of the veterans, Mayor John Moore accepted for the City of Madison, and Commission Chairman Ben Thompson accepted for Morgan County. The statue was unveiled by Burke Baldwin, the son of D. A. R. member, Mrs. C. S. Baldwin, Jr.
The buttstock of the rifle was broken off by a child swinging on it, but it is now restored.
During the 1990s, Georgia author Philip Lee Williams wrote a poem titled, "The Doughboy Statue on the Square in Madison, Georgia". It's from his collection, Night Wings. The poem is posted below, by permission of Mr. Williams:
From ''Night Wings'' -- Philip Lee Williams.
