World War I Memorial (East Providence, Rhode Island) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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World War I Memorial
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The memorial's statue and base in 2012
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 Location in Rhode Island
Location in the United States
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| Location | East Providence, Rhode Island |
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| Built | 1927 |
| MPS | Outdoor Sculpture of Rhode Island |
| NRHP reference No. | 01000466 |
| Added to NRHP | October 19, 2001 |
The World War I Memorial is a special bronze statue. It was created by an artist named Pietro Montana. You can find it in East Providence, Rhode Island, in the United States. It stands where Taunton Avenue, Whelden Avenue, and John Street meet.
The statue shows a strong soldier standing on a stone base. The soldier's pose is very active, like he's ready for action. The artist, Pietro Montana, based the soldier's look on a famous strongman, Charles Atlas.
When the memorial was first designed, the local committee in East Providence thought it looked "too rough." So, they made some changes to Montana's original idea. The memorial was officially opened on July 30, 1927. A general named Charles Pelot Summerall spoke at the event. He talked about how important it was for soldiers to be ready. He also praised the fighting spirit shown by Montana's soldier statue.
In 2001, the World War I Memorial was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important historical site.
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About the Memorial's Design
The World War I Memorial was designed by Pietro Montana. He was a painter and sculptor born in Italy. Montana studied art at the Cooper Union in Manhattan, New York City.
Montana was well-known for his monuments, especially in New York. One of his famous works was an earlier "Doughboy" statue. A "doughboy" was a nickname for American soldiers during World War I. This earlier statue was built in 1920 to honor soldiers who died in the war from areas like Bushwick, Brooklyn and Ridgewood, Queens. This first "Fighting Doughboy" statue was so popular that three copies were made by 1921. By 1932, Montana had created over 40 statues. He even won a gold medal for his sculpture "Orphans" in 1931.
How the Soldier Statue Looks
For this memorial, Montana wanted to show the brave and strong character of the American soldier. He used Charles Atlas, a famous bodybuilder, as his model. The artist wanted to show the soldier's strength through his muscular body.
The soldier statue is about 7.75 feet (2.36 m) tall. It is 2.583 feet (0.787 m) wide and 2.66 feet (0.81 m) deep. The soldier stands with his legs apart. His left hand is on his belt, and his right hand is by his side. His face looks serious and doesn't show much emotion.
The soldier wears a messy army uniform. His shirt collar is open, and his sleeves are rolled up. One of his knees has a tear in the uniform. His helmet is on the ground behind his left foot. A holster for a gun hangs from his belt on his right hip. Montana signed the sculpture with his name and the year: "Pietro Montana/SC/1927."
The Base of the Memorial
The soldier statue stands on a grey granite base. This base is about 6.33 feet (1.93 m) tall. It is 3.166 feet (0.965 m) wide and 3.5 feet (1.1 m) deep. The corners of the base have small leaf designs.
The base also has bronze pictures, called reliefs, on each side. These pictures are about 2 feet (0.61 m) by 2.66 feet (0.81 m) and have arched tops.
- The front picture honors the people of East Providence who served in World War I from 1917 to 1918. It also lists the names of twenty-three soldiers.
- The left picture shows soldiers marching. One man is on horseback, and four are walking.
- The right picture shows four or five men loading a large cannon.
- The back picture shows a nurse helping two wounded soldiers.
When the memorial was nominated for the National Register, it was in "moderately good condition." This means it was in fair shape. The surface had some stains and small pits, but it had no broken or missing parts. The statue is still in the same spot today. It stands in front of a building that used to be a school but is now homes.
Why This Memorial Is Important
The World War I Memorial is very important for a few reasons. It is the main way East Providence chose to honor its citizens who fought in the First World War. It also shows a soldier in battle in a very special way.
The statue is larger than life and very strong-looking. It stands out from other war monuments because of its active pose. It looks like the soldier is rising right out of the middle of a battle. This makes it a powerful symbol. The memorial was added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 19, 2001.
See also
In Spanish: Monumento conmemorativo de la Primera Guerra Mundial (East Providence) para niños
