The Civil War Memorial of Douglas, MA

      The Civil War Memorial is located on Main Street, Douglas, MA and was also dedicated on September 19^th, 1908. There was actually some conflict between the two groups each debuting their own monuments on the same day. The Soldiers’ Monument, which was town, funded and the Civil War Memorial, which was privately funded through a generous donation of $3,000 in 1905 by James Smith, a resident of Douglas’ will. The monument was designed by the Love Brothers of Webster, MA, which is just one town over from Douglas, MA. And the monument was actually sculpted by Haakon Frolich. And there is a copper monument of a union soldier with a rifle in his hands which stands a top a granite base. Four copper plaques line each of the four sides of the granite base, listing names of the men who served during the Civil War. 

      The inscription on the Civil War Memorial reads, “In memory of the men from Douglas who enlisted in the Civil War.” Those four plaques contain 240 names of enlisted men. Of which, thirty-five would die fighting the Confederacy. One of these men who passed away, died fighting for the 15^th Massachusetts during the battle of Antietam. Thirty-seven of the men served in the 25^th Massachusetts and another fifty-two served with the 51^st Massachusetts. The two monuments were unveiled as a light competition between the Sons of Union Veterans who funded the Soldiers’ Monument and the Grand Army of the Republic who used the donation from James Smith to commission the Civil War Memorial. A local news article which was preserved by local historian Anthony Coppola wrote, “Two soldiers’ monuments will be dedicated in Douglas tomorrow. What is regarded as the more important one, the gift of the late James Smith, is in East Douglas. The other, paid for by private subscriptions, with however a contribution of $200 as a nucleus, is on the Common at Douglas Center.” (Anthony H. Coppola).

           The Civil War Memorial holds great importance to the Town of Douglas because of its location and what it stands for. Right in the Center of the modern day Douglas’ downtown it stands guarding the center of town. It is seen every day by most of the population of Douglas due to it sitting at the cross roads of two of the busiest streets in the town. While the copper statue has since oxidized and it no longer shines like it did on the day of its unveiling, it stands like Douglas’ own statue of liberty. And it reminds the town of the many great men and women who have served, are currently serving, and will serve in the future. 

“About Douglas: Douglas, MA.” About Douglas | Douglas, MA, https://douglas-ma.gov/347/About-Douglas.

Browne, Patrick. “Douglas.” Massachusetts Civil War Monuments Project, MA Civil War Monuments Project, 31 July 2021, https://macivilwarmonuments.com/2021/07/31/douglas/?fbclid=IwAR1zQJK9n21vG2A-56h6Ggyg15iO1R5eZGn5mxkYDfM6ezWnuMzdIWly1uc.

“Douglas Civil War Monument.” American Civil War Monuments and Memorials, Waymarking, https://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM4T57_Douglas_Civil_War_Monument.

“Douglas Massachusetts Military Monuments.” Veterans Memorials in Douglas Massachusetts, https://www.massmilitarymonuments.com/Douglas-Mass.php.

“The Statue to the Revolutionary and Civil War Veterans of Douglas.” U.S. Revolutionary War Memorials, Waymarking, https://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM4NNK_The_Statue_To_The_Revolutionary_and_Civil_War_Veterans_Of_Douglas.