Equestrian statue of Charles Devens facts for kids
Charles Devens statue (2011)
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Coordinates | 42°16′16″N 71°48′00″W / 42.27111°N 71.80000°W |
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| Location | Institutional District, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States |
| Designer | Daniel Chester French Edward Clark Potter Robert D. Andrews (pedestal) |
| Builder | Gorham Manufacturing Company George D. Webb Granite and Construction Co. (pedestal) Jno. Williams, Inc. (plaque and lettering) |
| Type | Equestrian statue |
| Material | Bronze Granite (pedestal) |
| Height | 25 feet (7.6 m) |
| Beginning date | 1902 |
| Completion date | 1906 |
| Dedicated to | Charles Devens |
The equestrian statue of Charles Devens is a famous public monument in Worcester, Massachusetts, United States. It's also called the Worcester County Devens Memorial Statue. This statue stands in front of the old Worcester County Courthouse. It honors Charles Devens, a brave general who fought for the Union Army during the American Civil War. After the war, he became the United States Attorney General, a very important legal job. The statue was created by famous sculptors Daniel Chester French and Edward Clark Potter. It was officially revealed on July 4, 1906.
Contents
The Story Behind the Statue
Who Was Charles Devens?
Charles Devens was born in Charlestown, Massachusetts, on April 4, 1820. He went to Boston Latin School and then to Harvard College. He finished law school at Harvard Law School in 1840.
Devens started working as a lawyer in 1841. He also got involved in politics. He was a member of the Massachusetts Senate from 1848 to 1849. From 1849 to 1853, he worked as a United States marshal.
During the American Civil War, Devens joined the Union Army. He started as a major and later became a colonel. By the end of the war, he was a general. He was wounded in two major battles: the Battle of Fair Oaks and the Battle of Chancellorsville.
After the war, Devens went back to being a lawyer. In 1873, he became a judge for the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. Then, in 1877, President Rutherford B. Hayes chose him to be the United States Attorney General. He held this job until 1881. Charles Devens passed away in Boston on January 7, 1891.
How the Statue Was Planned
People started thinking about building a monument for Devens in late 1891. Senator George Frisbie Hoar from Massachusetts sent letters to important people in Worcester. He invited them to a meeting to discuss building a statue.
At this meeting, a group of 35 men was formed. Their goal was to raise money for the monument. They thought it would cost about $15,000. However, nothing much happened for about ten years.
The idea for the monument came back to life in 1901. This happened during a meeting of soldiers who had served with Devens. They formed a new committee. In March 1902, a larger committee was created. It included many important citizens from the area.
On April 4, 1902, the state government allowed the "Worcester County Memorial Devens' Statue Commission" to be officially formed. This group then started raising money from the public. The city of Worcester gave $7,500. Worcester County gave $5,000. Other towns in the county also gave about $4,000.
On July 12, 1902, the commission decided to hire sculptors Daniel Chester French and Edward Clark Potter. They were chosen to design the equestrian statue of Devens. The cost was set at no more than $30,000. French and Potter had worked together on statues before. French designed the human part, and Potter designed the horse.
In November 1903, the sculptors showed a model of the statue, which the commission approved. An architect named Robert D. Andrews was hired to design the pedestal for the statue. The George D. Webb Granite and Construction Co. built the pedestal. A company called Jno. Williams, Inc. made the bronze plaques and letters for the pedestal.
In October 1903, the final design was accepted. The model was sent to the Gorham Manufacturing Company to be cast in bronze. Senator Hoar even arranged for old cannons from the United States Congress to be used for the bronze. These cannons were worth about $2,000.
The Statue's Unveiling Ceremony
By December 1905, the statue was almost finished. A committee was formed to plan the dedication ceremony. They asked the city of Worcester for permission to place the statue in front of the Worcester County Court House. The city agreed.
The unveiling happened on July 4, 1906. About 250 militia members and over 1,000 Civil War veterans attended. A parade was held with important people like Massachusetts Governor Curtis Guild Jr. and Worcester mayor John T. Duggan. The parade included the original flags of the 15th Regiment, which had been carried during the Battle of Antietam.
Many speakers were present, including Governor Guild and Secretary of War William Howard Taft. The ceremony began with a prayer. Governor Guild gave a speech praising Devens and his contributions.
Then, Charles Devens Osborne, a grandnephew of Devens, officially unveiled the statue. A band played "The Star-Spangled Banner" as the crowd cheered. A county official then accepted the statue for the county. After more speeches, the band played "America". Following the ceremony, the veterans were treated to a luncheon. About 10,000 people watched the ceremony.
What Happened to the Statue Later?
In 1950, the courthouse building was expanded. The statue was moved a few feet. Today, it stands at the corner of Main Street and Highland Street. It is still on the courthouse grounds, looking over Lincoln Square.
In 2015, the old courthouse building was sold. It had been empty since 2008. Developers planned to turn the building into apartments. As part of the sale, they agreed to protect the historic property, including the Devens statue. A newspaper article in 2017 confirmed that the statue would stay in its place in front of the courthouse.
Statue Design
The monument is made of a bronze equestrian statue of Devens on top of a granite pedestal. It stands 25 feet (7.6 m) tall, which is about the height of a two-story building.
On the back of the pedestal, there is a bronze plaque with an inscription. It lists Charles Devens' life dates and his important roles:
CHARLES DEVENS
SOLDIER, ORATOR, JURIST
1820–1891
MAJOR, THIRD BATTALION MASS. RIFLES
APRIL, 1861
COLONEL, FIFTEENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOL. INFANTRY
JULY, 1861
BRIGADIER GENERAL, UNITED STATES VOLUNTEERS
1862
BREVET MAJOR GENERAL, UNITED STATES VOLUNTEERS
1865
ASSOCIATE JUSTICE, SUPERIOR COURT OF MASS.
APRIL, 1867
ASSOCIATE JUSTICE, SUPREME COURT OF MASS.
1873
ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES
1877
ASSOCIATE JUSTICE, SUPREME COURT OF MASS.
1881–1891
The front of the pedestal has another inscription. It says:
TO
GENERAL DEVENS
AND THE
MEN OF WORCESTER COUNTY
IN THE WAR FOR THE UNION
1861–1865
The commission also wanted to add more details. On the south side of the base, they wanted to list the names of the Worcester County Regiments and Companies. On the north side, they wanted to list the cities and towns and how many men each provided for the war.
Images for kids
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Charles Devens statue (2011)
See also
In Spanish: Estatua ecuestre de Charles Devens para niños
