Middlebury to Her Soldiers facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Middlebury to Her Soldiers |
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| Artist | Marshall Jones and Seward Jones |
| Year | 1904-1905 |
| Type | granite |
| Location | Middlebury, VT |
| 44°0′49.01″N 73°10′0.4″W / 44.0136139°N 73.166778°W | |
| Owner | Town of Middlebury, VT |
Middlebury to Her Soldiers is a special outdoor sculpture. It was created by American artists Marshall Jones and Seward Jones. You can find it in Middlebury, VT, in the United States. The Jones Brothers Company in Barre, Vermont, made the sculpture.
This artwork is made from granite, a strong stone. It shows a soldier from the American Civil War holding a flag. He stands on a tall, layered granite base. Around the base, there are four smaller figures. These figures represent different types of soldiers: an artilleryman, a cavalryman, a marine, and an infantryman.
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What the Sculpture Looks Like
On the west side of the sculpture's base, you can read the words "Middlebury to Her Soldiers." On the east side, it says "Donated by S.A. Ilsley Erected 1905." The artists did not sign their names on the sculpture or its base.
The sculpture is made from a light, fine-grained granite. This stone came from the Jones Brothers company's own quarry. The entire sculpture is about 32 feet 1 inch tall. That's as tall as a three-story building! The base itself is about 2 feet 8 inches high and 17 feet 6 inches wide on each side.
People sometimes call this sculpture by other names. These include the Soldier's Monument, the Civil War Monument, the Ilsley Monument, and the Spanish American Monument.
History of the Sculpture
This sculpture stands over an old underground water tank. This tank was once used for fire protection. But a new water system was built in Middlebury in 1902, so the tank was no longer needed.
How the Sculpture Was Made
Silas A. Ilsley, a man who fought in the Civil War, ordered the sculpture on November 18, 1904. He had moved to Middlebury in 1901 after retiring from his business. Mr. Ilsley gave the monument as a gift to the town of Middlebury.
The sculpture was officially dedicated on May 30, 1905. It was a huge celebration! About 7,000 people came to see it. The event included speeches, a parade, and even fireworks.
About the Artists
Marshall Jones and Seward Jones designed this amazing sculpture. Their company, the Jones Brothers Company, built it. The company started in Boston, MA, in 1882. They began working in Barre, Vermont, in 1886.
The old building where the company worked with granite is now the Vermont Granite Museum. It's considered a very important historical place. The United States Department of the Interior even called it one of "America's Treasures."
