Soldiers Monument, (sculpture).

Soldiers Monument, (sculpture).

Marston, Cyrus, sculptor.

Palmer & Garmon, fabricator.

Soldiers Monument, (sculpture).

Commissioned Feb. 1904. Installed July 19, 1904. Dedicated Aug. 22, 1904.

Digital Reference:

Sculpture: Blue Westerly granite; Base: Concord granite and Quincy granite.

Sculpture: approx. 6 ft. 6 in. x 2 ft. x 2 ft.; Base: approx. 11 ft. 8 in. x 7 ft. x 7 ft.

(On north side of base:) IN HONOR/OF/OUR COUNTRY'S DEFENDERS/1861-1865/THE MEN OF CHESTER WHO SERVED/IN THE WAR FOR THE UNION/DIED IN THE SERVICE/(List of names in two columns)/1904 (On east side of base:) HONORABLY DISCHARGED/(List of names) (On south side of base:) HONORABLY DISCHARGED/(List of names) (On west side of base:) HONORABLY DISCHARGED/(List of names)

Figure of a Civil War soldier, seen standing holding a rifle with both hands, butt end down. He is dressed in uniform, with cape, belt and cap. He stands with proper left leg slightly forward.

History -- United States -- Civil War

Figure male -- Full length

Occupation -- Military -- Soldier

Dress -- Uniform -- Military Uniform

Outdoor Sculpture -- New Hampshire -- Chester

Administered by Town of Chester, P. O. Box 275, Chester, New Hampshire 03036

Located Monument Square, Derry Road & Chester, Chester, New Hampshire

The sculpture was sponsored by the Grand Army Post, the Women's Relief Corps and the citizens of Chester in honor of the Civil War soldiers of Chester. The first contribution was $100, given in June 1901 by the GAR Post. The Women's Relief Corps joined in the fundraising efforts and in 1902 and 1904, the town appropriated a total of $1,000 towards the cost of the memorial. Cyrus F. Marston spearheaded the project and designed the sculpture. Palmer & Garmon of Manchester, New Hampshire fabricated the sculpture. A dedication ceremony was held on Old Home Day, August 22, 1904. The sculpture is often the subject of a Halloween prank in which a pumpkin is placed on the head of the figure.

IAS files contain a transcript of names on base. IAS files contain excerpts from George C. Hazelton's "The Dedicatory Proceedings of the Soldiers' Monument at Chester, New Hampshire August 22, 1904;" and David Ruell's "The Public Sculpture of New Hampshire," Concord, N.H.: New Hampshire Historical Society, 1980, pg. 59-60.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, New Hampshire survey, 1993.

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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