Connecticut's Civil War Monuments

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Davis Park
281 Broad Street
Danielson in Killingly, CT

Erected: 1878
Type: Bronze figure on granite pedestal, with ordnance
Height: Approximately 15 1/2'

SOLDIERS AND SAILORS MONUMENT, Danielson in Killingly, is significant historically because it was raised by a women's group. According to Crofut (p. 849), the women organized for the purpose only in 1876. The fact that the monument was in place as soon as two years later demonstrates great speed and dispatch. Whether the Women's Monument Association was an outgrowth of a group in existence during the war, or perhaps was associated with the local Grand Army of the Republic/Woman's Relief Corps posts, is unknown. For other Civil War monuments which were the product of women's efforts, see the nearby SOLDIERS' MONUMENT, Putnam, and SOLDIERS AND SAILORS MONUMENT, Clinton.

Davis Park was presented to the then-borough of Danielson in 1893 by Edwin W. Davis (1839-1903) of Arlen, Iowa, a Danielson native. Whether the monument was on the site before it became Davis Park is not clear.

SOLDIERS AND SAILORS MONUMENT, Danielson in Killingly, is significant artistically because it is an example of a bronze Civil War soldier on a simple but well-designed granite base. The half-round polished base, croissette corners of the plinth, and elevated position on a three-foot mound give it distinction.

Identities of the sculptor, foundry, and fabricator of the stonework regrettably have not come to hand.

The monument is significant artistically to Killingly because it is the only piece of outdoor sculpture in the town.

SOLDIERS AND SAILORS MONUMENT, Danielson in Killingly, is sited at the northern tip of Davis Park, which is a triangular piece of land north of Danielson's central business district. The monument is elevated on a three-foot mound of earth which supports the plinth; it honors all the community's sons who served in the war.

The plinth's corners are shaped like eared architraves. The top surface pitches up to support the base of the pedestal, which has a half-round pediment. The front surface of the pedestal base is polished to receive the lettering recorded below. Only the front surface is lettered. Above the base the stone, not polished, is shaped in a cyma curve followed by fillet and torus moldings in transition to the truncated pyramidal shaft which serves as or in lieu of a dado.

A raised Seal of Connecticut is on the front (northeast) face of the dado, surrounded by an incised border. On the northwest is a raised wreath under ribbon, on the southwest the Seal of the United States, and on the southeast another wreath under ribbon. The cornice is a flat projecting surface embellished by a horizontal raised undulating vine of leaves.

The bronze figure stands at rest with his left foot forward, the toe projecting forward beyond the edge of the base. Rifle butt is parallel with the direction of the feet. Left hand is over the muzzle; right grasps the barrel. Accoutrements are suspended from the waist belt at the right hip and in the rear, bayonet at left. The soldier, looking slightly to the right under his kepi, wears a small goatee as well as moustache.

A cannon is in place north of the monument.

Front (northeast) face of base, incised caps:

Florence S. Marcy Crofut, Guide to the History and Historic Sites of Connecticut (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1937), p. 849.

Sally Sawyer, Eastern Connecticut Library Association, conversation, November 16, 1990.