Benjamin C. Grenup Monument facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Benjamin C. Grenup Monument
Artist	Charles Rousseau (sculptor)
Year	1858 (1858)
Type	Marble
Location	Washington, D.C.
Coordinates	38°55′20″N 77°0′23″W / 38.92222°N 77.00639°W / 38.92222; -77.00639
Owner	Glenwood Cemetery

The Benjamin C. Grenup Monument is a special statue in Washington, D.C.. It was created by an American artist named Charles Rousseau in 1858. This monument is located at Glenwood Cemetery. It marks the resting place of Benjamin C. Grenup, a brave firefighter who died while on duty.

What Does the Monument Look Like?

This monument is made from marble. It features a tall, pointed stone pillar called an obelisk. This obelisk sits on top of a square base. The base has three carved pictures, known as reliefs, on its sides.

Carved Scenes on the Base

• The south side shows Benjamin Grenup at the moment he died. It depicts him being run over by a fire wagon. Other firefighters are shown reacting to this sad accident. One firefighter has his arms in the air, while others try to stop the wagon.
• The west side of the base has a carving of a fire hose and two nozzles. These are important tools for firefighters.
• The east side shows a fire axe, a torch, and a spanner wrench. These tools are tied together with a rope.

Decorations and Surroundings

The sculpture is decorated with patterns like the egg-and-dart design. You can also see garlands and ribbons carved into the stone. The monument stands on a triangle-shaped plot of land. A fence surrounds this area. At each of the three corners of the base, there are small sculptures of fire hydrants.

Signatures and Messages

The artist, Charles Rousseau, signed his name on the south side of the base. It says: "CH. ROUSSEAU. Sculptor."

The west side of the base lists the "Monument Committee." These were the people who helped make the monument happen:

• C Kauffman
• W.P. Hicks
• P. Kraft

The north side of the base has a message about Benjamin C. Grenup: BENJAMIN C. GRENUP AGED 24 YEARS KILLED IN THE DISCHARGE OF HIS DUTY MAY 6: 1856 THIS MONUMENT IS ERECTED BY COLUMBIA ENGINE CO NO 1 TO PERPETUATE THE MEMORY AND NOBLE DEEDS OF A GALLANT FIREMAN A TRUER NOBLER TRUSTIER HEART MORE LOVING OR MORE LOYAL NEVER BEAT WITHIN A HUMAN BREAST

The gate of the fence also has a sign. It reads: COLUMBIA, FIRE, CO. NO 1 J. H. MEAD, - MAKER. C. St, BETWEEN 9 & 10 Sts Washington.

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  Front view of the monument

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  View from the proper left side

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  Close-up of a carved relief on the back

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  View from the proper right side

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  The artist's signature on the base

Who Was the Artist?

The artist who created this monument was Charles Rousseau. He passed away in Washington, D.C., in 1903. He might have been born in Belgium. Charles Rousseau lived in Washington D.C. for a long time. He designed many monuments and gravestones in the area. One of his other works can be found at Congressional Cemetery. It is believed he may have studied art at the Royal Academies for Science and the Arts of Belgium. We don't have a lot of information about his early life.

The Story of Benjamin Grenup

Benjamin Grenup was one of the first firefighters to die while working in Washington, D.C. This sad event happened on May 6, 1856. Benjamin was a volunteer firefighter. He was helping to pull a hand engine, which was a type of fire truck pulled by people. As he was running to a fire call at Shreeve's Stable on 7th Street, NW, he was accidentally run over by the engine.

Benjamin Grenup was a member of Columbia Fire Company #1. Today, this fire company is known as DCFD Engine Company #3. His monument stands as a reminder of his bravery and sacrifice.