Photo provided by Jerry Cecil of Winchester.
WINCHESTER, KENTUCKY
Copyright version 1920, sheet bronze.
Smithsonian Art Inventory Control Number: 47260050.
On corner of Cleveland and Wall Street at rear of Clark County Courthouse.
The inscription on the plaque on the front of the base reads:
1917 1919
DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF THOSE
FROM CLARK COUNTY
WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN DEFENSE OF
HUMANITY IN THE WORLD WAR
---
“AS THEY SERVED AMERICA IN TIME OF WAR,
YIELDING THEIR LAST FULL MEASURE OF DEVOTION,
MAY WE SERVE AMERICA IN TIME OF PEACE,
SO LIVING THAT JUSTICE, FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY
MAY ENDURE FOREVER.”
(followed by list of 26 names)
1917 1919
DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF THOSE
FROM CLARK COUNTY
WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN DEFENSE OF
HUMANITY IN THE WORLD WAR
---
“AS THEY SERVED AMERICA IN TIME OF WAR,
YIELDING THEIR LAST FULL MEASURE OF DEVOTION,
MAY WE SERVE AMERICA IN TIME OF PEACE,
SO LIVING THAT JUSTICE, FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY
MAY ENDURE FOREVER.”
(followed by list of 26 names)
The other three sides have plaques and inscriptions with preambles worded as above, except they do not include “FROM CLARK COUNTY” and they name WORLD WAR II DEC. 7 1941- SEPT 4, 1945 (70 names), THE KOREAN WAR JUNE 25, 1950 – JULY 27, 1953 (17 names), and THE VIETNAM WAR 1961-1973 (7 names).
The WWII list is followed by:
ON FAME’S ETERNAL CAMPING GROUND
THEIR SILENT TENTS ARE SPREAD,
AND GLORY GUARDS WITH SOLEMN ROUND
THE BIVOUAC OF THE DEAD
-Theodore O’Hara
The Korean War list is followed by:
NOR SHALL YOUR STORY BE FORGOT
WHILE FAME HER ROCORD KEEPS,
OR HONOR PAINTS THE HALLOWED SPOT
WHERE VALOR PROUDLY SLEEPS.
-Theodore O’Hara
ON FAME’S ETERNAL CAMPING GROUND
THEIR SILENT TENTS ARE SPREAD,
AND GLORY GUARDS WITH SOLEMN ROUND
THE BIVOUAC OF THE DEAD
-Theodore O’Hara
The Korean War list is followed by:
NOR SHALL YOUR STORY BE FORGOT
WHILE FAME HER ROCORD KEEPS,
OR HONOR PAINTS THE HALLOWED SPOT
WHERE VALOR PROUDLY SLEEPS.
-Theodore O’Hara
Originally dedicated November 11, 1929, the 11th day of the 11th month of the 11th year after the Armistice, slightly south of the current location. At the dedication, a lead box containing the names of children who contributed to the fundraising drive was placed inside the base, but it must have been lost when the sculpture was moved to its current location. After having had a locally performed restoration many years ago, a major restoration was performed by representatives of Washington University (St. Louis) in 1986.
Around March 7, 2009, the statue toppled due to high winds. The damaged statue was taken to Oberlin, Ohio, where it was restored by McKay Lodge Fine Arts Conservation Laboratory, Inc. The sculpture was returned to its base on June 16, 2010, and a rededication ceremony was held on July 3. Speakers included County Judge-Executive Henry Branham and retired architect Chuck Witt.
An Update from Jerry Cecil, Winchester, Kentucky Resident, 6/25/2010
I am looking at your website and you have done a wonderful job cataloging and maintaining the history and locations of the Doughboys.
We will rededicate our Doughboy in a few days around the 4th of July activities -- it was toppled from its base last year and damaged. A local volunteer of our community museum researched, located, and then had the correct bayonet fashioned and reconnected with the statue. Years ago, a vandal had taken the original bayonet and a "technically incorrect" bayonet was installed by a well-intentioned citizen.
While the Doughboy was in storage, it was restored again --- which is about 24 years (1986) after I led a citizens' committee in the total renovation/restoration of the statue (WUTA from ST. Louis) and repairs to the limestone base (tuckpointing), the addition of a granite stand on top to replace the leaking "concrete rubble" stand that was allowing water to penetrate the pedestal.
Also, a fourth plaque was added for the Vietnam War deaths, a brick paver sidewalk was added and new landscaping was done on the outside perimeter of the walk. My son, Tom, undertook this as an Eagle Scout project -- aided of course, by Mr. Doug White, a local contractor and veteran. Prior to the 1986 renovation, the shrubbery was so overgrown around the base that children could not get close enough to see/read the inscribed tablets.
I am glad to see that our Doughboy has, once again, regained the prominence and importance with a new generation of citizens.
Thank you for generous efforts in maintaining the legacy of the Doughboy.
Sincerely
Jerry Cecil
Winchester, KY
We will rededicate our Doughboy in a few days around the 4th of July activities -- it was toppled from its base last year and damaged. A local volunteer of our community museum researched, located, and then had the correct bayonet fashioned and reconnected with the statue. Years ago, a vandal had taken the original bayonet and a "technically incorrect" bayonet was installed by a well-intentioned citizen.
While the Doughboy was in storage, it was restored again --- which is about 24 years (1986) after I led a citizens' committee in the total renovation/restoration of the statue (WUTA from ST. Louis) and repairs to the limestone base (tuckpointing), the addition of a granite stand on top to replace the leaking "concrete rubble" stand that was allowing water to penetrate the pedestal.
Also, a fourth plaque was added for the Vietnam War deaths, a brick paver sidewalk was added and new landscaping was done on the outside perimeter of the walk. My son, Tom, undertook this as an Eagle Scout project -- aided of course, by Mr. Doug White, a local contractor and veteran. Prior to the 1986 renovation, the shrubbery was so overgrown around the base that children could not get close enough to see/read the inscribed tablets.
I am glad to see that our Doughboy has, once again, regained the prominence and importance with a new generation of citizens.
Thank you for generous efforts in maintaining the legacy of the Doughboy.
Sincerely
Jerry Cecil
Winchester, KY
More From Jerry Cecil, July 1, 2010
Here are two photos of the 1929 dedication of the Winchester, KY Doughboy. It originally was in the center of the rear yard of the county courthouse. During a 1938 WPA courthouse expansion it was moved to the Cleveland St. side of the courthouse facing the Post Office. The pedestal was changed at the time of the move.
Links:
photobucket.com
photobucket.com
