Civil War Memorial: 20th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Memorial - Boston, MA

20th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry

Boston, MA

N 42° 20.974 W 071° 04.644

Short Description:

A sculpture of a lion adorns the memorial honoring the members 20th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, the Harvard Regiment, who fought in the Civil War. The memorial is located in the McKim Building of the Boston Public Library 700 Boylston St. in Boston, MA.

Long Description:

A larger than life sculpture of a lion in couchant position is one of a pair of lions sculpted by Louis St. Gaudens in 1890 and placed in the main branch of the Boston Public Library. The lion that was commissioned by and the honors the members of the 20th Massachusetts Infantry who fought in the Civil War adorns the left side of the grand staircase as you climb up the steps. The lion is sculptured from unpolished yellow Siena marble and rests on a 10' high rectangular marble base.

The back of the base contains the dedication:

IN HONOR

OF THE

TWENTIETH MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEER INFANTRY

AND IN REMEMBRANCE OF THE 

OFFICERS AND MEN WHO FELL IN ITS RANKS

THIS MONUMENT HAS BEEN GIVEN TO THE CITY OF BOSTON

The upper part of the front of the base is inscribed with the names of Civil War Battles:

BALL'S BLUFF - FAIR OAKS - GLENDALE

MALVERN HILL - ANTIETAM - FREDRICKSBURG

MARYE'S HEIGHTS - GETTYSBURG - BRISTOE STATION

THE WILDERNESS - SPOTTSYLVANIA- COLD HARBOR

PETERSBURG - APPOMATTOX COURT HOUSE

The lower part of the front has a bronze wreath in which is inscribed:

TWENTIETH

MASSACHUSETTS

INFANTRY

1861-1865

Civil War Memorial: 2nd Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Memorial - Boston, MA

2nd Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 

Boston, MA

N 42° 20.974 W 071° 04.644

Short Description: 

A sculpture of a lion adorns the memorial honoring the members 2nd Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry who fought in the Civil War. The memorial is located in the McKim Building of the Boston Public Library 700 Boylston St. in Boston, MA.

Long Description:

A larger than life sculpture of a lion in couchant position is one of a pair of lions sculpted by Louis St. Gaudens in 1890 and placed in the main branch of the Boston Public Library. The lion that was commissioned by and the honors the members of the 2nd Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry who fought in the Civil War adorns the right side of the grand staircase as you climb up the steps. The lion is sculptured from unpolished yellow Siena marble and rests on a 10' high rectangular marble base.

The back of the base contains the dedication:

IN HONOR

OF THE

SECOND MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEER INFANTRY

AND IN REMEMBRANCE OF THE 

OFFICERS AND MEN WHO FELL IN ITS RANKS

THIS MONUMENT HAS BEEN GIVEN TO THE CITY OF BOSTON

The upper part of the front of the base is inscribed with the names of Civil War Battles:

WINCHESTER - 1862 - CEDAR MOUNTAIN

ANTIETAM - CHANCELLORSVILLE

GETTYSBURG - RESACA - ATLANTA

MARCH TO THE SEA - SAVANNAH

SHERMAN'S CAROLINA CAMPAIGN

The lower part of the front has a bronze wreath in which is inscribed:

SECOND

MASSACHUSETTS

INFANTRY

1861-1865

Philatelic Photograph: Legislative Assembly Building - George Town, Grand Cayman Island

Legislative Assembly Building

George Town, Grand Cayman Island

Cayman Islands

N 19° 17.802 W 081° 22.915

Short Description: 

Legislative Assembly Building of the Cayman Islands is located at 33 Fort St, George Town, Cayman Islands.

Long Description:

In 1909 the first Legislative Assembly met is was is now the Cayman Islands National Museum at 3 Harbour Dr. The present Legislative Assembly building was first poured concrete public building in the Cayman Islands. It was designed by the Jamaican firm, Rutkowski, Bradford & Partners. The cornerstone was laid on 29 September 1971 and the building was completed in July 1972.

In 2003, the building was renovated and enlarged and first used by at opening of the Legislature session on July 2, 2004. Hurricane Ivan, 11–12 September 2004, devastated much of the Cayman Islands but did only minor damage to the roof of the building.

The stamp was issued by Cayman Islands in 1972 as part of a set of four stamps celebrating the opening of the new Legislative Assembly Building and the Courthouse.

Philatelic Photograph: Courthouse Building - George Town, Grand Cayman Island

Courthouse Building

George Town, Grand Cayman Island

Cayman Islands

N 19° 17.770 W 081° 22.907

Short Description: 

The Cayman Islands Courthouse Building is located south of Heroes Square at 61 Edward St, George Town, Cayman Islands.

Long Description:

The Courthouse building on Grand Cayman Island was completed in 1972. it was designed by by the Jamaican firm, Rutkowski, Bradford & Partners, who also designed the Legislative Assembly Building and the Glass House.

The Cayman Islands Judicial System now runs 10 courtrooms a day on average and has outgrown the building. While a new courthouse is being planned, the Cayman Islands has acquired the Scotia complex on Cardinal Avenue in downtown George Town provide space to to handle the overload.

The stamp was issued by Cayman Islands in 1972 as part of a set of four stamps celebrating the opening of the new Courthouse and the Legislative Assembly Building.

Figurative Public Sculpture: Blue Iguana "Blu" - George Town, Grand Cayman Island

Blue Iguana "Blu"

George Town, Grand Cayman Island

Cayman Islands

N 19° 17.714 W 081° 22.873

Short Description: 

A sculpture of a Cayman Island blue iguana is located on the sidewalk on Main Street near the intersection with Edward Street in George Town, Grand Cayman Island.

Long Description:

Sculptures of the endangered Cayman Island blue iguana are located on the Blue Dragon Trail throughout Grand Cayman Island. The trail has 15 larger than life sculptures of Grand Cayman’s largest native land animal, which grows to over five feet long, and reaches 25 lbs in weight. Only 15 to 25 members of this species are found in the wild.

Several blue iguana sculptures are located in Georgetown. This 8' long realistic sculpture, by Charles Long, called "Blu" depicts the iguana in its natural colors. It was created in 2005 in conjunction with the Blue Iguana Recovery Program.

Disaster Marker: Boston Molasses Flood Plaque - Boston, MA

Boston Molasses Flood Plaque

Boston, MA

N 42° 22.097 W 071° 03.326

Short Description: 

A plaque, placed by the Bostonian Society, commemorating the Boston Molasses Flood is located at the north entrance to the Harborwalk at 529 Commercial Street in the North End of Boston, MA.

Long Description:

A green plaque attached to a stone wall commemorating the Great Boston Molassas Flood is inscribed:

Boston Molasses Flood 

On January 15, 1919, a molasses tank at 529
Commercial Street exploded under pre-
ssure, killing 21 people. A 40-foot wave of
molasses buckled the elevated railroad tracks,
crushed buildings and inundated the neigh-
borhood. Structural defects in the tank com-
bined with unseasonably warm temperatures
contributed to the disaster.
------------------------------------------

The
Bostonian
Society

The Boston Molasses Flood is one of the most unusual disasters ever to occur. On January 15, 1919, in the North End of Boston, MA, a 2,300,000 gallon, 8,700 m3, molasses storage tank, owned by the Purity Distilling Company, exploded. In seconds, the tank emptied and a wave of molasses rushed through the streets at an estimated 35 mph, 56 km/h, killing 21 and injuring 150.

On that day the temperature rose above 40° F, 4.5 C and pressure built inside the tank. Rivets broke loose and shot out from the poorly constructed storage tank, unleashing a 40' wave of molasses. The elevated railroad tracks buckled and buildings were swept off their foundations and crushed. The city streets were flooded to a depth of 2' to 3'. People and horse were ensnared in the sticky molasses and could not escape. It took 300 people nearly two weeks to remove the molasses from the streets. Molasses remained in the harbor until summer.

The following is an alphabetical listing of those who died in the accident:

Patrick Breen, 44 - Laborer
William Brogan, 61 - Teamster
Bridget Clougherty, 65 - Homemaker
Stephen Clougherty, 34 - Unemployed
John Callahan 43, - Paver
Maria Di Stasio, 10 - Child
William Duffy, 58 - Laborer
Peter Francis, 64 - Blacksmith
Flaminio Gallerani, 37 - Driver
Pasquale Iantosca, 10 - Child
James H. Kinneally, ? - Laborer
Eric Laird, 17 - Teamster
George Layhe, 38 - Firefighter
James Lennon, 64 - Teamster/Motorman
Ralph Martin, 21 - Driver
James McMullen, 46 - Foreman
Cesar Nicolo, 32 - Expressman
Thomas Noonan, 43 - Longshoreman
Peter Shaughnessy, 18 - Teamster
John M. Seiberlich, 69 - Blacksmith
Michael Sinnott, 76 - Messenger

Revolutionary War: Princeton Battle Monument - Princeton, NJ

Princeton Battle Monument

Princeton, NJ

N 40° 20.875 W 074° 39.948

Short Description: 

The Princeton Battle Monument commemorates Washington's first major victory in the Revolutionary War, It is located in a park between Routes 206 and 27 in Princeton, NJ

Long Description:

A 40' Beaux Arts style high relief sculpture honors the men of the Continental Army who fought and won the battle of Princeton on January 3, 1777. In this battle Brigadier General Hugh Mercer and the Continental Army fought against a British force led by Lieutenant Colonel Charles Mawhood. After General Mercer's position was overrun Washington sent reinforcements under Brigadier General John Cadwalader. Washington then arrived with more troops, rallied the army, and forced Colonel Charles Mawhood to retreat back to Trenton.

The Indiana limestone sculpture rests on a granite base. The sculpture was created by Frederick William MacMonnies, Thomas Hastings was the architect, Marion Sims the architect, and the Piccirilli Brothers Marble Carving Studios did the fabrication. The sculpture was dedicated on June 9, 1922.

The high-relief grouping depicts General George Washington facing north. He is wearing a tri-corner hat and cloak while mounted on a horse. He is surrounded by seven of his soldiers in various positions. Immediately below Washington is an allegorical female figure representing Liberty. Surrounding them are seven wounded Revolutionary War soldiers standing, crouching, kneeling and lying down.

The sides of the monument are carved with reliefs of sarcophagi and obelisks that are decorated with trees and weapons and the seals of the states of the original colonies and the seal of the United States.

On the back is the following inscription:

HERE MEMORY LINGERS

TO RECALL 

THE GUIDING MIND

WHOSE DARING PLAN

OUTFLANKED THE FOE

AND TURNED DISMAY TO HOPE

WHEN WASHINGTON

WITH SWIFT RESOLVE

MARCHED THROUGH THE NIGHT

TO FIGHT AT DAWN

AND VENTURE ALL

IN ONE VICTORIOUS BATTLE

FOR OUR FREEDOM 

A nearby sign explains the significance and history of the monument. it is inscribed:

PRINCETON BATTLE MONUMENT

This Monument, which commemorates the January 3, 1777 Battle of Princeton, depicts Liberty inspiring General Washington as he leads his troops into battle, and the death of General Hugh Mercer. The seals of the United States and the original thirteen states appear on the sides of the Monument, and the inscription on the back was composed by Andrew Fleming West. Commissioned in 1908, the Monument was designed by the Beaux Arts sculptor Frederick MacMonnies with the assistance of architect Thomas Hastings. President Warren G. Harding was present for the 1922 dedication.

In 2006 the Princeton Parks Alliance, in carrying out the vision of Princeton Borough Major Joseph O’Neill, undertook a project to permanently illuminate the Monument. As with the original construction of the Monument, local citizens responded with generous donations. The Monument lighting was funded with gifts from Princeton University, Sara and Alexander Buck, Randy and Herb Hobler, Betty Johnson, Douglas F. Bushnell, Marie and Edward Matthews, Barbara and Art Morgan, The Gordon and Llura Gund Foundation, Betsy and Tod Peyton, Joan and Bill Schreyer, Charles C. Townsend Jr., Andrew Kootz and Laurie Harmon, Wendy and Peter Benchley, Sherry MacLean, and many more. Additional funding from the State of New Jersey was made possible through the efforts of Assemblyman Reed Gusciora.