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Pleasant Plains Memorial
History
The bronze victory figure created by sculptor and Tottenville resident George Thomas Brewster (1862–1943) was originally dedicated on June 9, 1923. Local residents raised funds for the sculpture and commemorative tablets that honor the 493 soldiers and sailors from the Fifth Ward of Staten Island, including the 13 who lost their lives in combat, who served in World War I. The female figure stands on a granite pedestal holding a sword and palm frond high in the air while an eagle with its wings spread sits at her feet.
Formerly in a narrower traffic island at the juncture of Amboy and Bloomingdale Roads, the Pleasant Plains Monument was damaged by vehicles in 1968 and 1970. After the second accident it was removed to storage; at some point it mysteriously disappeared. The present sculpture, recreated from historic photographs, was modeled by Glenn Hines, fabricated by Modern Art Foundry of Queens, and reinstalled in this expanded and improved site in 1996, and rededicated nearly 74 years later on June 8, 1997.
Pleasant Plains Memorial Details
- Location: Amboy and Bloomingdale Roads
- Sculptor: George Thomas Brewster (original figure); Diane and Glenn Hines (replacement figure)
- Description: Female figure atop ball on integral plinth fronted by eagle rampant and backed by wreathed helmet, pedestal, base, four plaques
- Materials: Figure and plaques--bronze; Pedestal and base--black granite (polished)
- Dimensions: Sculpture total H: 10'7"; Pedestal H: 4'8" L: 3'1" W: 3'1"; Base H: 9" L: 5'8" W: 5'8"; Each plaque H: 2'3½" W: 1'9"; Sculpture weight: 800 pounds (approximate)
- Cast: ca 1923
- Dedicated: June 9, 1923
- Foundry: Gorham Company (original figure and plaques); Modern Art Foundry (replacement figure)
- Donor: Citizens of the Fifth Ward (original); City of New York (replacement)
- Inscription: Bronze plaque, front:
IN MEMORIAM / TO THE SOLDIERS AND SAILORS OF THE / FIFTH WARD WHO MADE THE / SUPREME SACRIFICE. / HEROIC DEAD: / GEORGE C. ANDROVETTE --- PHILIP P. GLISMANN / WALTON U. BEAUVAIS --- ALONZO HERBSTREET / MARTIN O. BROWN --- CLARENCE KLINGER / THOMAS CAVALLO --- PETER MASSEY / MARTIN L. DIETZ --- JOHN W. O'MEARA JR. / JOHN L. GARDNER --- ALMER G. RUSSELL / ELWOOD LAFORGE SMITH. / ERECTED BY THE CITIZENS OF THE FIFTH WARD / IN HONOR OF THE SOLDIERS AND SAILORS / WHO SERVED THEIR COUNTRY IN THE / WORLD WAR OF 1914-1918. /
Bronze plaques on three sides:
[Listing the 480 names of soldiers and sailors from the Fifth Ward who served in World War I and survived]
Integral plinth, rear left:
MODERN ART FOUNDRY 1996 / MA CAST 96
Integral plinth, proper right:
DIANE AND GLENN HINES, SC 1996 AFTER ORIGINAL BY GEORGE THOMAS BREWSTER, 1923 /
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
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