The Hiker, (sculpture).

The Hiker, (sculpture).

Kitson, Theo Alice Ruggles, 1871-1932, sculptor.

Bowditch, Ernest W., designer.

The Hiker, (sculpture).

Rockery, (sculpture).

Rockery - The Spanish American War Monument, (sculpture).

Spanish American War Monument, (sculpture).

Rockery 1884. Sculpture: dedicated Oct. 12, 1926.

Digital Reference:

Sculpture: bronze; Base: fieldstone; Rockery: fieldstone.

(On the heel of the soldier's boot:) GORHAM CO. FOUNDERS (On plaque on front of base:) THIS MONUMENT ERECTED/BY THE/TOWN OF WAKEFIELD/TO COMMEMORATE THE VALOR/AND PATRIOTISM OF THE MEN OF THIS/TOWN WHO SERVED IN THE WAR WITH/SPAIN, PHILIPPINE INSURRECTION AND/CHINA RELIEF EXPEDITION 1898-1902/DEDICATED OCTOBER 1, 1926/UNDER THE AUSPICES OF/CORPORAL CHARLES F. PARKER CAMP NO. 39/UNITED SPANISH WAR VETERANS DEPARTMENT OF MASSACHUSETTS unsigned Founder's mark appears.

The monument depicts a soldier dressed in a Spanish American War uniform holds a rifle horizonally in front of him. He wears a shirt with the sleeves rolled up, pants tucked into his boots, and a broad-brimmed hat. Around his waist he carries an his ammunition and over his proper left shoulder he carries a knapsack. The sculpture is installed in front of a fountain and a large fieldstone wall known as the Rockery.

History -- United States -- Spanish American War

History -- United States -- Philippine Insurrection

History -- United States -- China Relief Expedition

Figure male -- Full length

Occupation -- Military -- Soldier

Dress -- Uniform -- Military Uniform

Object -- Weapon -- Gun

Outdoor Sculpture -- Massachusetts -- Wakefield

Administered by Town of Wakefield, Main Street, Wakefield, Massachusetts

Located Main & Common Streets, Wakefield, Massachusetts

The Rockery was erected by Captain James Carter of Wakefield who in his travels to Europe saw public monuments and fountains, and decided the Town of Wakefield's public spaces would be improved with the addition of a purely decorative construction. He met with considerable opposition, but persevered and finally the Rockery was built in 1884. Ernest W. Bowditch designed the Rockery. Theo Kitson designed the sculpture of the Spanish American War soldier which was added in 1926 in honor of Wakefield citizens who took part in foreign action in Spain, the Philippines, and in China. The sculpture was dedicated on the 75th anniversary of the Richardson Light Guard. IAS files contain a copy of the Massachusetts Historical Commission Form C - Monuments questionnaire dated March 1985. For additional information see William Eaton's "History of Wakefield," Wakefield, MA, 1944.

Carlock, Marty, "A Guide to Public Art in Greater Boston," Boston: Harvard Common Press, 1988.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Massachusetts survey, 1997.

The information provided about this artwork was compiled as part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture database, designed to provide descriptive and location information on artworks by American artists in public and private collections worldwide.

Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture, Smithsonian American Art Museum, P.O. Box 37012, MRC 970, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012

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