Spirit of the American Doughboy, (sculpture).

Spirit of the American Doughboy, (sculpture).

Viquesney, E. M., 1876-1946, sculptor.

Thomas Manson & Son Monument Makers, fabricator.

Spirit of the American Doughboy, (sculpture).

World War I Victory Monument, (sculpture).

Dedicated Aug. 16, 1924.

Sculpture: copper; Base: pink Maine granite.

Sculpture: approx. 7 x 3 x 4 ft.; Base: approx. 6 x 5 x 5 ft.

(On proper right side of sculpture base, incised lettering:) 'SPIRIT OF THE/AMERICAN DOUGHBOY'/COPYRIGHTED BY/E.M.VIQUESNEY SCULPTOR/AMERICUS, GEORGIA.

(On plaque on front of base, raised lettering:) FAIR HAVEN/HONOR ROLL/IN HONOR OF THOSE/WHO SERVED THEIR COUNTRY/ON LAND AND SEA/1917 WORLD WAR 1919/KILLED IN ACTION/CHRISTOPHER DOUGHTY WALTER GROVER/DIED IN THE SERVICE/CHARLES BURDGE CHESTER BERRY MYRON MORSON/(Left column:) OLIVER J. BALCH/L. EARL BATTIN/FRANCIS L. BENNETT/RUSSELL BENNETT/JACOB S. BROWN/RICHARD A. BROWN/LEON BURDGE/ERNEST CHADWICK/WILLIAM CHANDLER/FERDINAND DE BERMINGHAM/HARRY DENNIS JR./ALEXANDER DOUGHTY/EDWARD HAWKINS/ALFRED HENDRICKSON/CLARENCE HENDRICKSON/RUSSELL HENDRICKSON/CORRINE F. HUNTING/TONY E. HUNTING/RAYMOND JACKSON/HARRY JOHNSON/EDWARD T. KIRK/CLAYTON KING/(Right column:) CHARLES WESSON KNAUS/CORNELIUS MARCELLUS/JOHN W. MASON/ROBERT MAY JR./JOHN McANERNEY/MARSHALL McANERNEY/CHESTER W. MINTON/MYRON G. MINTON/LESTER MORSON/GEORGE J. MULLIGAN/JOSEPH P. MULLIGAN/ARTHUR PARKER/EDMUND B. PLANITZ/GUY POTTER/JOSEPH F. PRYOR/SCHOKLEY REEVEY/JOHN RUNGAIN/HERBERT SCHUMAN//RALPH S. SMITH/CHARLES W. VAN OSTEN/ROBERT L. VAN OSTEN/IRVING WALL signed

A uniformed World War I infantryman is advancing past two stumps and barbed wire obstacles. His proper left hand holds a rifle and his proper right arm is raised high. He holds a grenade in his hand. He wears a wide-brimmed helmet, a square pouch at his chest and an artillery belt around his thigh-length jacket. The sculpture is mounted atop four-sided base with beveled corners and a wider bottom.

History -- United States -- World War I

Figure male -- Full length

Occupation -- Military -- Soldier

Dress -- Uniform -- Military Uniform

Outdoor Sculpture -- New Jersey -- Fair Haven

Administered by Borough of Fair Haven, 748 River Road, Fair Haven, New Jersey 07704

Located Memorial Park, Fair Haven & River Road intersection, Fair Haven, New Jersey

The sculpture cost approximately $1,000, plus an unspecified sum for the base. It honors those from Fair Haven who served during World War I. The Fair Haven Memorial Park Committee financed the sculpture and new memorial park by holding several fundraising events, including a boxing tournament featuring Gene Tunney. Both the sculpture and park were dedicated together on August 16, 1924.

Around the late 1960s, vandals stole the 1903 Springfield rifle held by the doughboy. Vandals have also taken the grenade and broken the figure's proper left hand. In 1995 the sculpture was refurbished with funds raised by the Fair Haven Veterans Committee. A replacement left hand and rifle were cast by Johnson Atelier (Mercerville, New Jersey). The sculpture was rededicated in 1995 after restoration efforts were completed. IAS files include excerpt from town newsletter, "Focus on Fair Haven," July 1995; and related articles from Asbury Park Press, April 28, 1992, pg. C4, and The Two River Times, n.d.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, New Jersey survey, 1995.

Asbury Park Press, April 28, 1992, pg. C4.

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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