Connecticut's Civil War Monuments
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| Thompson | CIVIL AND SPANISH WARS PLAQUE Thompson Common Dedicated: Date, after 1900, unknown Historical Significance CIVIL AND SPANISH WARS PLAQUE, Thompson, is significant historically because it is a tangible symbol of the Thompson community's honor and respect for its soldiers and because it links the two conflicts in a single memorial. The dedication of a single memorial to honor participants in more than one war was not unique (see WAR MEMORIAL, Worthington Ridge in Berlin, for example), but was relatively uncommon. In particular, the phrase "Civil and Spanish Wars" was unusual, the latter engagement customarily being called the Spanish-American War. Nothing is known about the date and circumstances surrounding the origin and placing of the plaque on the Green. Artistic Significance CIVIL AND SPANISH WARS PLAQUE, Thompson, is significant artistically because it is characteristic of the rustic mode which was popular in the early 20th century (see also WOMAN'S RELIEF CORPS MONUMENT, Stonington). The foundry, Gorham Company of Providence, Rhode Island, and New York City, was famous for casting art objects. The figure of SOLDIERS' MONUMENT, Putnam, and the plaques for MEMORIAL GATEWAY, Simsbury, are other examples of Gorham's work. Description CIVIL AND SPANISH WARS PLAQUE, Thompson, is mounted on a large boulder of gray fieldstone/granite. It faces southeast toward SR 193 on the long edge of the triangular Thompson Common, across the street from the Thompson Congregational Church and the Public Library. A flagpole is behind the monument. It is dedicated to all Thompson men who served in the Civil War and the Spanish-American War. The front face of the stone to which the plaque is affixed is pitched back slightly. The top of the plaque is curvilinear in shape. It has a raised border in the classical fasces pattern. At the top the Seal of Connecticut is flanked by foliate motifs, while the Seal of the Town of Thompson is at the top corners. Lettering Lower right hand corner, incised caps: Top of plaque, raised caps: TO ITS SOLDIERS OF THE CIVIL AND SPANISH WARS (5 columns of names, the first 2 having 50 names, the third 51, the fourth 50, the fifth 34) SPANISH WAR VETERANS (8 names) THIS TABLET HONORS EQUALLY ANY SOLDIER WHOSE NAME HAS BEEN UNINTENTIONALLY OMITTED |
