Spirit of the American Doughboy - Dover, NJ
N 40° 53.151 W 074° 34.224
18T E 536192 N 4526174
This is a really spectacular WW I memorial and monument located in Hurd Park, located on the Jackson Brook. It is fenced off so it is impossible to read the credits or identifying information, but, it's definitely a Viquesney and completed in 1922.
Waymark Code: WM5P67
Location: New Jersey, United States
Date Posted: 01/28/2009
Views: 22
From a Smithsonian website (sent to me by the category owner), I was able to ascertain the text on one of the plaques. It reads:
"This monument/designed and constructed/under supervision of our/esteemed townsman/Peter C. Buck/1922. (Rocks on base have bronze plaques with names of deceased veterans)"
The official description reads:
"Figure of a World War I infantryman advancing through the stumps and barbed wire of No Man's Land. He holds a grenade in his upraised proper right hand. The figure originally held a gun in his proper left hand--both hand and gun are missing from this work. He stands atop a pile of rocks, some of which have bronze name plaques."
The sculpture is approximately 7 x 3 x 3 ft. and is made of bronze with a concrete foundation. it is owned by Hurd Park, and located Route 46 opposite Princeton Avenue, Dover, New Jersey." SOURCE
Hurd Park is a municipal park with mowed turf throughout the site and little or no vegetation along streams running through it. As a result of these conditions, the park contains a large resident goose population throughout much of the year. Within this park are many other memorials to visit as well.
The park is located on West Blackwell Street (Route 46), But there is absolutely no parking allowed on this road/street. Instead, you can park on Princeton Avenue (N 40° 53.174 W 074° 34.225). Since 1922, the park has been home to the Doughboy Monument, celebrating those who lost their lives defending the country during the First War, and beautiful cherry trees. (At least one of the cherry trees has been killed by beavers!) There is also a gorgeous gazebo which is a popular spot for wedding pictures.