David N. Foster, (sculpture).

David N. Foster, (sculpture).

Hibbard, Frederick Cleveland, 1881-1950, sculptor.

Scherer, Herman, contractor.

Florentine Brotherhood Foundry, founder. (possibly by)

David N. Foster, (sculpture).

Colonel David N. Foster Monument, (sculpture).

Dedicated May 14, 1922.

Sculpture: cast bronze; Base: Victorian white granite.

Sculpture: approx. 9 ft. 6 in. x 42 in. x 31 1/4 in.; Base: approx. 15 ft. x 7 ft. 9 in. x 6 ft. 7 in.

(On proper left side of sculpture:) Frederick C. Hibbard (On front of base, incised lettering:) DAVID N. FOSTER (On plaque on rear of base:) THIS MONUMENT/ERECTED BY THE PEOPLE OF FT. WAYNE/TO/COL. DAVID N. FOSTER/IN 1922, WHILE HE WAS YET LIVING, AND/ACTIVE IN THE WELFARE OF HIS HOME CITY/BORN APRIL 24, 1841/HE IS TRULY CALLED "THE FATHER OF THE FORT/WAYNE PARK SYSTEM" AN HONOR FULLY EARNED/THROUGH YEARS OF DEVOTION AND ACTIVITY AS/PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS/SINCE ITS CREATION IN 1905, AND THROUGH/THE GIFT OF FOSTER PARK TO THE CITY IN 1912,/JOINTLY WITH HIS BROTHER, SAMUEL M. FOSTER./"HE WILL LIVE FOREVER, NOT BECAUSE OF HIS/MILITARY RECORD, FOR THAT WAS ATTAINED IN/SERVICE FOR HIS COUNTRY, NOR BY REASON OF/HIS BUSINESS CAREER, FOR ALL MUST GAIN A/LIVELIHOOD, BUT IN THE LAUGHTER OF THE/CHILDREN, THE STRENGTH OF THE YOUTH, AND THE/JOY OF THE MIDDLE-AGED WHO SHALL LIVE AND/LOVE AND PROSPER AND KNOW REAL HAPPINESS/IN THAT GREATER FORT WAYNE OF TOMORROW/WHICH IS HIS DREAM COME TRUE." signed

David N. Foster stands facing slightly to the proper right. He wears a vest, coat, necktie, and knee-length dress coat. His proper right thumb is latched in his pocket and in his proper left hand he holds a hat. Foster has a mustache and beard and his hair is parted down the middle. The sculpture is mounted on a simple block base backed by a taller base that rises behind the figure. Two slender tree trunks are carved in relief on each side of the taller base. The leaves of the trees form a decorative layered cap for the base.

Portrait male -- Foster, David N. -- Full length

Occupation -- Monetary -- Philanthropist

Occupation -- Military -- Colonel

Occupation -- Other -- Businessman

Outdoor Sculpture -- Indiana -- Fort Wayne

Administered by City of Fort Wayne, Parks Department, 705 East State Boulevard, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46805

Located Swinney Park, West entrance, Washington Boulevard, Fort Wayne, Indiana

The sculpture was installed by the citizens of Fort Wayne in honor of Colonel David N. Foster (1841-1934), known as the "Father of the Fort Wayne Park System." He served as the first President of the Board of Park Commissioners. In 1912, Foster and his brother Samuel donated land for the establishment of Foster Park. The sculpture may have been cast at the Florentine Brotherhood Foundry in Chicago. IAS files contain related articles from the News Sentinel (Fort Wayne, IN), Nov. 20, 1921 through Feb. 10, 1979; and related clippings from the Journal Gazette (Fort Wayne, IN), Nov. 10, 1972 and Aug. 24, 1973.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Indiana survey, 1993.

National Park Service, American Monuments and Outdoor Sculpture Database, IN5007, 1989.

Monumental News, June 1921, July 1922, and Jan. 1923.

SOS Assessment Award, 1998.

News Sentinel (Fort Wayne, IN), Sept. 14, 1934.

Monumental News, Jan. 1923, pg. 37.

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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