NORTH CANAAN, CONNECTICUT
N 42° 01.580 / W 073° 19.687
Copyright version 1920, sheet bronze.
Smithsonian Art Inventory Control Number: 47260009.
Copyright version 1920, sheet bronze.
Smithsonian Art Inventory Control Number: 47260009.
At East Main Street and Granite Avenue.
The inscription on the front plaque reads:
1914 HONOR ROLL 1918
IN HONOR OF THOSE WHO SERVED IN
THE WORLD WAR
FROM
NORTH CANAAN
(followed by three columns of names)
An inscription below the Dougboy’s proper left reads:
1861 IN MEMORY 1865
OF THESE MEN OF NORTH CANAAN
WHO FOUGHT IN THE CIVIL WAR
(followed by five columns of names)
THE WORLD CAN NEVER FORGET WHAT THEY DID
Abraham Lincoln
An inscription below the Doughboy’s proper right reads:
THIS TABLET IS REVERENTLY
INSCRIBED TO THE MEMORY OF
THOSE WHO WENT FROM THAT PART
OF THE TOWN OF CANAAN WHICH
LATER BECAME NORTH CANAAN, AND WHO
WITH VALOR AND PATRIOTISM
DEFENDED THE FLAG OF OUR COUNTRY
IN THE COLONIAL WARS
THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION
THE WAR OF 1812
ALTHOUGH TIME HAS DIMMED THE RECORD OF THEIR
NAMES, THEIR DEEDS ARE HELD IN EVERLASTING
REMEMBRANCE
A large plaque in the center of a stone wall behind the Doughboy honors those who served in WWII:
PROUDLY WE PAY TRIBUTE TO THE MEM AND WOMEN OF NORTH CANAAN WHO ANSWERED
THEIR COUNTRY'S CALL IN WORLD WAR #11 [sic] 1941-1945
(followed by six columns of names)
1914 HONOR ROLL 1918
IN HONOR OF THOSE WHO SERVED IN
THE WORLD WAR
FROM
NORTH CANAAN
(followed by three columns of names)
An inscription below the Dougboy’s proper left reads:
1861 IN MEMORY 1865
OF THESE MEN OF NORTH CANAAN
WHO FOUGHT IN THE CIVIL WAR
(followed by five columns of names)
THE WORLD CAN NEVER FORGET WHAT THEY DID
Abraham Lincoln
An inscription below the Doughboy’s proper right reads:
THIS TABLET IS REVERENTLY
INSCRIBED TO THE MEMORY OF
THOSE WHO WENT FROM THAT PART
OF THE TOWN OF CANAAN WHICH
LATER BECAME NORTH CANAAN, AND WHO
WITH VALOR AND PATRIOTISM
DEFENDED THE FLAG OF OUR COUNTRY
IN THE COLONIAL WARS
THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION
THE WAR OF 1812
ALTHOUGH TIME HAS DIMMED THE RECORD OF THEIR
NAMES, THEIR DEEDS ARE HELD IN EVERLASTING
REMEMBRANCE
A large plaque in the center of a stone wall behind the Doughboy honors those who served in WWII:
PROUDLY WE PAY TRIBUTE TO THE MEM AND WOMEN OF NORTH CANAAN WHO ANSWERED
THEIR COUNTRY'S CALL IN WORLD WAR #11 [sic] 1941-1945
(followed by six columns of names)
Two smaller plaques on either side of the WWII plaque honor the servicemen of the Korean and Vietnam Wars.
Behind the stone wall to the rear of the Doughboy are four evergreen trees planted in honor of four soldiers of WWI who died in service. In front of each tree there is a small white stone marker bearing a tiny plaque with the name of the soldier, plus the American Legion emblem.
Behind the stone wall to the rear of the Doughboy are four evergreen trees planted in honor of four soldiers of WWI who died in service. In front of each tree there is a small white stone marker bearing a tiny plaque with the name of the soldier, plus the American Legion emblem.
The primary monument was dedicated in the summer of 1928. (July 4 is estimated.) Plaques on the rear cobblestone wall honor named persons who served in World War II, Korean and Vietnam. At one point, the left hand, rifle and bayonet were taken by vandals, but returned and replaced. The bayonet has been replaced several other times. Currently, the rifle sling is missing and the bayonet is partially wired in place, but the Doughboy is otherwise in relatively good condition.
When the original monument was built, there was no statue on it, but it was designed to accept one later. As might be expected, the townspeople soon decided they wanted a statue. But before they were to make a choice at a town meeting, veteran William S. Blass, donned his old WWI uniform, obtained a rifle and climbed the monument to assume the same pose as "The Spirit of the American Doughboy" so the North Canaan townspeople could see what it would look like. Below is a 1928 photograph of Mr. Blass standing on top of the monument.
Mr. Blass was a resident of Bethel, Connecticut, where there is an identical statue, so he knew what it looked like.
When the original monument was built, there was no statue on it, but it was designed to accept one later. As might be expected, the townspeople soon decided they wanted a statue. But before they were to make a choice at a town meeting, veteran William S. Blass, donned his old WWI uniform, obtained a rifle and climbed the monument to assume the same pose as "The Spirit of the American Doughboy" so the North Canaan townspeople could see what it would look like. Below is a 1928 photograph of Mr. Blass standing on top of the monument.
Mr. Blass was a resident of Bethel, Connecticut, where there is an identical statue, so he knew what it looked like.
WWI veteran Bill Blass poses as Viquesney's Doughboy statue in 1928.
Both of the foregoing photographs were furnished by North Canaan historian Fred Hall. Mr. Hall was very helpful in providing information and photos even though he was in his 90s at the time (summer, 2001). In late 2002, Les Kopel, the Webmaster of this site, was in North Canaan and found a plaque honoring the late Mr. Hall at the base of the flagpole.
