Calvary Monument

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Soldiers Monument

History

This text is part of Parks’ Historical Signs Project and can be found postedwithin the park.

This monument, in the middle of Calvary Cemetery in Queens, honors Union soldiers who died in the Civil War (1861-65). The elaborate monument was commissioned by the City of New York, and erected in 1866. It features a 50-foot-high granite obelisk decorated with bronze garlands and ornamental flags and topped with a bronze figure representing peace, which was sculpted by Daniel Draddy. Draddy also created the four life-size figures depicting Civil War soldiers that stand on pedestals surrounding the column.

Twenty-one Roman Catholic Civil War Union soldiers are interred at the site; the last burial took place in 1909. In 1929, the monument was given a new fence, and its bronze and granite details were replaced and restored. Draddy was well known for his church altars, including the Coleman Memorial in St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan. Family member, John G. Draddy, sculpted the bust of Thomas Moore in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park.

The monument is in need of restoration and Parks seeks sponsors to support conservation of this historic piece.

Updated May 17, 2007

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Soldiers Monument Details

Location: Laurel Hill Boulevard
Sculptor: Daniel Draddy
Description: Obelisk with applied decorations surmounted by figure (heroic scale), die with decorations on all four faces (?), graduated base; four figures (life size) on corner pedestals; fenced square with four cannons at corners and four eagles on corner piers
Materials: Obelisk, pedestals, and piers--Barre granite; decorations, figures, cannons, and eagles--bronze; fence--iron
Dimensions: Obelisk h 40' (?); base l 8' x w 8'; top figure h 10' (?); fence l 40' x w 40'
Cast: ca. 1866
Dedicated: 1866
Foundry: National Fine Art Foundry
Fabricator: Maurice J. Power
Donor: Mayor, Aldermen and commonalty of the City of New York
Inscription: [plaque 1]
TO THE MEMORY OF / THE BRAVE MEN / WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES / TO PRESERVE THE UNION / 1861-65 /

[plaque 2]
BY THE MAYOR / ALDERMEN & COMMONALTY / OF THE / CITY OF NEW YORK /

Please note, the NAME field includes a primary designation as well as alternate namingsoften in common or popular usage. The DEDICATED field refers to the most recent dedication, most often, butnot necessarily the original dedication date. If the monument did not have a formal dedication, the yearlisted reflects the date of installation.

For more information, please contact Art & Antiquities at (212) 360-8163