Soldiers Monument, (sculpture).

Soldiers Monument, (sculpture).

Unknown, sculptor.

Soldiers Monument, (sculpture).

Dedicated Oct. 13, 1893. Rededicated May 25, 1958.

Sculpture: bronze; Base: granite.

Sculpture: approx. 6 x 2 x 2 ft.; Base: approx. 11 ft. x 55 in. x 57 in. (875 lbs.).

(On front of shaft of base, incised letters:) IN HONOR OF 126 MEN OF/CANDIA WHO SERVED IN THE/WAR OF THE REBELLION/KILLED/(List of six names follows/DIED IN SERVICE/(List of fifteen names follows) (On rear of shaft of base, incised letters:) MONUMENT PRESENTED BY/GOV. FREDERICK SMYTH/FOUNDATION BY THE/TOWN (On side of shaft of base:) IN MEMORY OF 155 MEN OF/CANDIA WHO SERVED IN THE/WAR OF THE REVOLUTION/KILLED LIEUT. T. DEARBORN/P. HILLS/IN MEMORY OF 5 MEN OF/CANDIA WHO SERVED IN THE/FRENCH INDIAN WAR/OF 1756 (On other side of shaft of base, incised letters:) IN MEMORY OF 48 CANDIA/MEN WHO SERVED IN THE/WAR OR 1812 AND/J.W. WEBSTER/KILLED IN THE MEXICAN WAR/1847/IN HONOR OF 34 MEN OF/CANDIA WHO SERVED IN THE WORLD WAR I/KILLED IN ACTION/LIEUT. WM. HERVEY THOMAS unsigned

A figure of a bearded and mustached Union Civil War soldier, dressed in a Union uniform that consists of boots, pants, overcoat, cloak and cap. He stands holding the barrel of a rifle with his proper right hand while resting his proper left wrist across the top of the barrel. The soldier wears a belt with a buckle with "U.S." on it and two hanging pouches, a small one at his front proper right and a larger one at his rear. The sculpture is placed atop a base that consists of three lower steps, a smooth inscribed shaft, and a large cap. The entire monument is enclosed by a granite curb and four flower beds.

History -- United States -- French & Indian War

History -- United States -- Revolution

History -- United States -- War of 1812

History -- United States -- Mexican War

History -- United States -- Civil War

History -- United States -- World War I

Figure male -- Full length

Occupation -- Military -- Soldier

Dress -- Uniform -- Military Uniform

Outdoor Sculpture -- New Hampshire -- Candia

Administered by Town of Candia, 74 High Street, Candia, New Hampshire 03034

Located High Street, opposite Smyth Public Library, Candia, New Hampshire

In early 1892, Governor Frederick Smyth, a native of Candia, New Hampshire, offered to give Candia a monument honoring its Civil War soldiers on the condition that the town provided a suitable location. The monument was later expanded to include soldiers of other wars. At its annual town meeting on March 8, 1892, the town voted to donate a site at the old meetinghouse and that $200 be appropriated for curbing and foundation. On March 14, 1893, the town voted to appropriate another $100 in addition to what had already been raised. The governor kept his promise and supplied the town with the monument.

In 1958 the monument was struck by a vehicle, toppled and damaged. LeBlanc Bros. Granite Works restored the monument. The curb stones around the base are the original stones, but were sandblasted and cleaned with "speedy-cleaner." The four walks between the curb stones and base were replaced. The base's three lower steps are the original steps, but these were sandblasted and recut to fit the lower section of the base's shaft. The original inscribed shaft of the base was replaced with a new one bearing sandblasted letters and a steel finish. The base's cap is the original stone. The original sculpture weighed 450 pounds. After being reinforced and sprayed with eight coats of bronze finish, the sculpture weighed 875 pounds. The monument was rededicated on May 25, 1958, with people present who had attended the original dedication sixty-five years earlier.

IAS files contain a transcription of names on base. IAS files contain a related article from The Manchester Union, Oct.14, 1893, pg. 4; and excerpts from "Addresses and Proceedings at the Dedication of Candia's Soldiers' Monument," Manchester, New Hampshire: John B. Clarke Co., 1894, pg. 6-13, 54-56, 72; the "Annual Report of the Town of Candia, New Hampshire for the Year Ending January, 31, 1923," pg. 4-5; and David Ruell's "The Public Sculpture of New Hampshire," Concord: New Hampshire: New Hampshire Historical Society, 1980, pg. 39-40. IAS files contain a photocopy of the program for the monument's rededication ceremony and a copy of the "Welcome Speech," given by M. Dean Sanborn.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, New Hampshire survey, 1994.

"Addresses and Proceedings at the Dedication of Candia's Soldiers' Monument," Manchester, New Hampshire: John B. Clarke Co., 1894.

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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