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Memorialization of World War I in New York City
Item 24 of 56

Heisser Triangle Bushwick-Ridgewood Memorial

Introduction

Text-to-speech Audio

This bronze figure was made in 1919 to commemorate soldiers from the communities of Bushwhick or Ridgewood who fought in the first World War. The figure was sculpted by Italian-American artist Pietro Montana (1890–1978) and was the first of six so called "Doughboy" status of his to be displayed publicly, with the other being located in Suffern, New York, Riverdale, New Jersey, North Arlington, New Jersey, Wanaque, New Jersey, and Alliance, Ohio. The sculpture was unveiled in 1921 following parades and and placement of floral wreaths around its base, as per tradition floral wreaths remain at the base of the statue. Following the parade and ceremonial removal of the shroud by daughters of the soldiers, the statue was officially offered to Mayor John F. Hylan by Municipal Court Judge Harrison Glore, chairman of the monument committee. $7,000 dollars of the statues funding was provided by citizens of Bushwick and Ridgewood contributed $7,000 towards the commission, which adjusted for inflation is $102,425.70, with the rest of the funding coming from the city. The statue underwent cleaning and renovation after sustaining considerable wear and tear in 2001.

Images

Message carved into base of monument

Message carved into base of monument

Heisser Triangle Bushwick-Ridgewood memorial statue (human for scale)

Heisser Triangle Bushwick-Ridgewood memorial statue (human for scale)

Backstory and Context

Text-to-speech Audio

This bronze figure was made in 1919 to commemorate soldiers from the communities of Bushwhick or Ridgewood who fought in the first World War. The figure was sculpted by Italian-American artist Pietro Montana (1890–1978) and was the first of six so called "Doughboy" status of his to be displayed publicly, with the other being located in Suffern, New York, Riverdale, New Jersey, North Arlington, New Jersey, Wanaque, New Jersey, and Alliance, Ohio.

The sculpture was unveiled in 1921 following parades and and placement of floral wreaths around its base, as per tradition floral wreaths remain at the base of the statue. Following the parade and ceremonial removal of the shroud by daughters of the soldiers, the statue was officially offered to Mayor John F. Hylan by Municipal Court Judge Harrison Glore, chairman of the monument committee.

$7,000 dollars of the statues funding was provided by citizens of Bushwick and Ridgewood contributed $7,000 towards the commission, which adjusted for inflation is $102,425.70, with the rest of the funding coming from the city. The statue underwent cleaning and renovation after sustaining considerable wear and tear in 2001.

Sources

Heisser Triangle." Heisser Triangle Highlights - Bushwick-Ridgewood War Memorial : NYC Parks. Accessed November 01, 2017. https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/heisser-triangle/highlights/10970.

Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 313, National Collection of Fine Arts , Central Administrative File, Records

"Inflation Calculator." Calculate the value of $7,000 in 1919. Accessed November 01, 2017. https://www.dollartimes.com/inflation/inflation.php?amount=7000&year=1919

Image Sources(Click to expand)

James Azzaretti (November 4, 2017)

James Azzaretti (November 4, 2017)