Statue of George Frisbie Hoar facts for kids
George Frisbie Hoar statue (2020)
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Coordinates | 42°15′46.6″N 71°48′07″W / 42.262944°N 71.80194°W |
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| Location | Worcester City Hall and Common, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States |
| Designer | Daniel Chester French Peabody and Stearns (pedestal) |
| Builder | Norcross Brothers (pedestal) |
| Type | Statue |
| Material | Bronze Granite |
| Beginning date | 1907 |
| Completion date | 1908 |
| Dedicated to | George Frisbie Hoar |
The George Frisbie Hoar statue is a public monument in Worcester, Massachusetts, United States. It stands on the north side of the Worcester City Hall. This monument honors George Frisbie Hoar, a well-known politician from the city. The monument includes a statue designed by Daniel Chester French. It was officially revealed in 1908.
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Who Was George Frisbie Hoar?
George Frisbie Hoar was born in Concord, Massachusetts, on August 29, 1826. He went to Concord Academy as a child. At 16, in 1842, he started at Harvard College. He finished his studies there four years later.
In 1849, he graduated from Harvard Law School. He then became a lawyer and began working in Worcester, Massachusetts. During the 1850s, he served in the government of Massachusetts. He was part of both the Massachusetts House of Representatives and the Massachusetts Senate.
From 1869 to 1877, Hoar served in the United States House of Representatives. He was a member of the Republican Party. In 1877, he became a U.S. Senator. He held this important job until he passed away in Worcester in 1904.
How the Statue Was Made
After Senator Hoar's death, people wanted to remember him. On April 25, 1905, the Mayor of Worcester, Walter H. Blodgett, held a meeting. They talked about creating a special memorial for Hoar.
A fund was started to collect money for this project. Many people donated, and soon over 30,000 donors gave more than $21,000. This showed how much people respected George Frisbie Hoar.
Designing the Monument
On July 20, 1905, a famous artist named Daniel Chester French was chosen. He would design the main statue of Hoar. The base, called a pedestal, was designed by Peabody and Stearns. It was built by a company called Norcross Brothers.
The best spot for the monument was chosen on January 16, 1908. It would be on the north side of the Worcester City Hall.
The Dedication Ceremony
The statue was officially revealed on June 26, 1908. This special event is called a dedication ceremony. It started with a prayer. Then, important people gave speeches. These included Mayor James Logan and Massachusetts Governor Curtis Guild Jr..
A judge named William Henry Moody also gave a speech. The ceremony ended with everyone listening to the song "America".
What the Statue Looks Like
The monument features a bronze statue of George Frisbie Hoar. It sits on a strong granite pedestal. In the statue, Hoar is shown sitting in a chair. An overcoat hangs over one arm of the chair. In his other hand, Hoar holds a manuscript, which is like a document or paper.
The pedestal has several bronze plaques with words carved into them. These words tell us more about George Frisbie Hoar and his life.
- The west side lists his birth and death dates. It also mentions his jobs, like lawyer, scholar, and statesman. It shows his roles in the Massachusetts government and as a U.S. Representative and Senator.
- The north side describes his character. It says he was a "lover of liberty" and a "champion of the oppressed." It explains that his life reflected the values of Massachusetts and the country's founders. It also thanks the 30,000 people who donated to create the statue.
- The south side has a famous quote from Hoar. In this quote, he shares his beliefs in God and the American people. He talks about how freedom and good government must be earned by each group of people. He also expresses his hope that the world is always getting better.
More to Explore
- 1908 in art
- Public sculptures by Daniel Chester French
