War Memorial Monument, (sculpture).

War Memorial Monument, (sculpture).

Naylor, Franklin L., designer.

R. L. McGovern Company, fabricator.

War Memorial Monument, (sculpture).

1931. Copyrighted 1931. Dedicated June 2, 1939.

Digital Reference:

Sculpture: light gray (Barre?) granite; Base: light gray (Barre?) granite.

Sculpture: approx. 6 x 1 x 1 ft.; Base: approx. H. 30 ft. x Diam. 12 ft.

F.L. Naylor / McGovern Granite Co. (Rear face of base, incised lettering:) COPYRIGHTED BY/NEWTOWN, CONN./F.L. NAYLOR/DESIGNER/McGOVERN GRANITE CO./BUILDERS/1931 (Front face of base, incised lettering:) NEWTOWN REMEMBERS/WITH GRATEFUL PRAYERS AND/SOLEMN VOWS HER SACRED DEAD/HER HONORED LIVING WHO/VENTURED ALL UNTO DEATH/THAT WE MIGHT LIVE A REPUBLIC/WITH INDEPENDENCE A NATION/WITH UNION FOREVER A WORLD/WITH RIGHTEOUSNESS/AND PEACE FOR ALL unsigned Founder's mark appears.

A female stands with proper left foot and leg forward, her proper left knee revealed through a slit in the skirt of her classical drapery. In her proper left hand she holds a flag which is draped over her proper left side. Her proper right hand reaches over toward the flag and in her proper right hand she holds a laurel branch and a long section of large chain link. She has long hair and wears a sphere on top of her head. The sculpture rests on a tall base made of three columns topped by a hexagonal feature which is embellished with stars and eagles perched on swags of drapery. The circular lower section of the base has three exedra-like benches and three steps.

History -- United States -- Revolution

History -- United States -- War of 1812

History -- United States -- Mexican War

History -- United States -- Civil War

History -- United States -- Spanish American War

History -- United States -- World War I

Figure female -- Full length

Dress -- Historic -- Classical Dress

Dress -- Accessory -- Hat

Object -- Tool -- Hardware

Object -- Other -- Flag

Outdoor Sculpture -- Connecticut -- Newtown

Administered by Municipality of Newtown, Department of Public Works, Highway Garage, Turkey Hill Road, Newtown, Connecticut 06470

Located 66 Main Street, Newtown, Connecticut

The monument was the testamentary gift ($25,000) of Mary E. Hawley, a Newtown resident who also gave funds for the town hall, library, and a bridge. Although the monument was erected in 1931, it was not formally dedicated until June 2, 1939, during a ceremony organized by the Veterans of Foreign Wars. For related articles see The Newtown Bee, Dec. 2, 1930, May 15, 1931, and June 2, 1939.

In front of the monument there is a black marble, or granite, slab with bronze plaques which read on the north side: HONOR ROLL/REVOLUTIONARY WAR/WAR OF 1812/MEXICAN WAR/SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR/MEXICAN BORDER WAR and on the south side: HONOR ROLL/CIVIL WAR/WORLD WAR.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Connecticut survey, 1994.

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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