Guilford, CT – Soldier’s Monument
In the heart of Guilford, Connecticut, is the Guilford Town
Green. At the center of the green, stands a two-toned monument of pink and gray
granite honoring Civil War veterans. The monument was sculpted by John Beattie and
James Goodwin Patterson was the designer. The structure features an infantryman
standing with a rifle in his hands. The soldier is wearing a moustache, cap,
knee length coat with a kit on his right side, and a cape. The base of the
monument is locally quarried pink granite and was dedicated in 1877. A decade
later, the soldier was made of grey granite supplied by a Massachusetts
company.
On the front of the Guilford monument reads: “In memory of
the men of Guilford who fell and in honor of those who served in the war for
the Union, the grateful town erects this monument, that their example may speak
to coming generations.” The south side of the monument lists the Battle of
Antietam and the names of 14 residents killed in the war. The east face lists
Gettysburg and an additional 14 names. The west side lists Port Royal (SC) and
14 names. The first name listed is Douglas Fowler, a Guilford local who was
commanding the 17th Connecticut Volunteer Regiment when he was
killed on the first day of the Battle of Gettysburg (July 1, 1863).
The Guilford Town Green not only honors soldiers of the Civil
War, but has a boulder dedicated to WWI as well as a WWII monument. The Vietnam
war sacrifice of three residents is honored by a 1984 monument on the
northwest corner of the green. Additionally there is a tree dedicated to the
victims of 9/11 as well as a Firefighters monument.
If you would like an ornament featuring your town, business, or organization, please call us at 603.569.4944. To see more of our custom pieces please visit our custom page https://www.hampshirepewter.com/custom-made-pewter-corporate-gifts or our blog https://www.hampshirepewter.com/blog.asp